Interview With Junmai Osake, A Sake Illustrator Based In Japan

Today we have the opportunity to interview “Junmai Osake” on Instagram, an artist focused on Japanese Sake illustrations.

Thank you for your time today. Can you please tell us more about yourself?

Happy to be here! Please call me Junmai. I’m from Tokyo.

Can you tell us about your background as an illustrator? How did you get started, and is there any particular event that brought you to do this?

I originally worked as a graphic designer. Drawing has been a passion of mine since I was little, and I used to draw every day until elementary school. However, lacking the confidence to make it into a full-time career, I ended up pursuing a completely different career path as an adult. But I couldn’t let go of my dream, so I returned to studying graphic design and gained experience by working at a design firm. I even worked late nights to make up for lost time.

As my design skills improved, I began creating simple illustrations for flyers, reigniting my desire to draw illustrations once again. I decided to focus my illustrations on my favorite subject – sake. I started my social media account about a year ago. It was nerve-wracking since I’d never had one before, but the positive feedback came much quicker than I expected, boosting my confidence.

What mediums do you prefer to work with, and why?

My mediums are iPad and Apple Pencil. I prefer digital drawing because it doesn’t need any preparation or cleanup time, allowing me to sketch whenever and wherever inspiration strikes. Additionally, I rely on my iPhone to jot down ideas and even add the smallest details to my works. When illustrating dishes from izakayas, I make a habit of snapping photos of my food. It’s a fail-safe measure, especially if I end up a bit tipsy and forgetful. This way, I can focus on capturing the authentic atmosphere of the izakaya while infusing it with my personal style. Since I use the iPad to shorten the time it takes to output ideas, I try to stick to an analog style that retains the warmth of hand-drawn works.

You only focus on Japanese Sake in your illustrations. What drew you to this theme?

I have a deep love for sake and izakaya! I believe many artists are inspired by things that resonate with their hearts and compel them to create. For me, that’s sake and izakaya. I aspire to create artworks that convey the deliciousness of sake, the happiness and comfort of enjoying it, and the joy of connecting with others over sake. I also felt there weren’t enough cute illustrations related to sake, so I decided to start drawing them myself!

I never miss my evening drink sessions at home. I love being able to enjoy them at my own pace, savoring the small details like the variations in glasses and temperatures.

Do you regularly visit any sake breweries or shops or experience traditional sake-related events? How do these experiences influence your illustrations?

While I don’t attend events regularly, I make it a point to join whenever I find something that catches my interest. Being able to meet the artisans behind the sake breweries at these events adds an extra layer of enjoyment to the sake experience, as I hear their incredible stories firsthand. Moreover, connecting with fellow sake enthusiasts who share the same passions as me is a unique pleasure I truly cherish. There’s something special about forming bonds with like-minded individuals over our mutual love for sake. At these gatherings, I often share stickers I’ve designed or showcase my artwork with my newfound friends. The genuine reactions I receive, unlike those on social media, truly fuel my motivation and often inspire fresh ideas.

Following the earthquake that struck the Noto Peninsula in January, I created promotional POPs to be displayed on bottles and made them available for free download. This project, which features hashtags #ActionForNoto and #ActionForHOKURIKU, aims to support the sake breweries by promoting the purchase of Hokuriku sake, rallying support for the region’s recovery efforts.

You have been creating very cute stickers for Line, a popular chat platform we use in Japan as well as real stickers! Are these available for people overseas? If not, do you plan to offer them in the future?

They are available for purchase in the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Taiwan, and more. I’m also in the process of creating an English and French version, and I’d love for you to check it out when it’s ready! While I’d love to offer it worldwide, there are some areas where I’m unable to sell due to LINE’s service limitations. If you’re in one of these areas, please search for “junmai” in GIPHY’s stickers on iMessage! You’ll find stickers featuring my LINE stamps.

Note: at the time of writing the English version and French version of the stickers had not been released yet, but they are now available at this link for English, and this link for French!

You have also recently started to work on creating ZINEs! Can you please tell us more about that and what it is? How did you get started? What do you want to write about? Where can we find them in Japan?

ZINE is essentially a booklet created mainly by individuals or groups, typically on a non-profit basis. What attracts me to it is the unique expression of each creator, as it’s not driven by commercial interests. I find that it resonates with certain aspects of Japan’s otaku culture.

Similar to illustrations, I wanted to carve out a space within ZINEs to express my passion for sake. When a friend invited me to join a ZINE workshop, I was inspired to start selling them at events.

ZINEs have long been platforms for voices that often go unheard in mainstream media, long before the rise of social media we see today. They offer unparalleled freedom in both content and presentation. Embracing this cultural aspect, I strive to infuse my ZINEs with ideas and experiences that wouldn’t fit within traditional media, alongside my own personal reflections. That’s why I intentionally avoid over-polishing them, hoping to maintain a raw, unrefined quality.

Do you have any upcoming projects you would like to share with our readers?

Lately, it’s becoming more common to spot foreigners not just in Tokyo in general, but also in local izakayas. As someone who appreciates the amazing culture created by these unique pubs, it fills me with immense joy to witness people embracing Japan’s izakaya experience.

I’ve also heard that sake is gaining popularity in various countries. Sake isn’t just about its delicious taste; it embodies a rich history and the passion of its breweries, each brimming with captivating stories. I also believe its production techniques reflect tremendous dedication. Considering its historical connection, sake undoubtedly plays a significant role in cultivating an environment where sake and food harmonize perfectly at Japanese izakayas.

My aim is to capture the allure of izakayas and sake through illustrations, appealing to seasoned sake enthusiasts and newcomers alike. Good sake transcends language barriers; its sheer deliciousness speaks volumes! Similarly, illustrations possess the same universal appeal. While graphic design may not involve words, the ultimate goal of “communication” remains unchanged.

Nevertheless, certain aspects of izakaya culture and sake require further explanation. Hence, I’m devising projects whilst honing my language skills to create content that will resonate with overseas audiences in the future.

Numerous unrealized ideas swirl in my mind, and I believe they’ll continue to blossom. For now, my current objective is to broaden my expressive horizons as much as possible to bring these countless ideas to fruition.

Lastly, aside from illustrating sake, I delight in crafting sake-related jokes. I aspire to produce heartwarming pieces that bring smiles even during challenging times. If I can offer a small measure of solace to someone’s heart through sake or illustrations, there’s no greater satisfaction.

Thank you very much for your time and for answering our questions! We wish you all the best in your projects and are hoping for more stickers to come in the future. Everyone make sure to check out Junmai Osake’s work, we are sure you’ll love it!

Follow Junmai Osake on:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/junmai_osake/
• Japanese LINE stamp: https://store.line.me/emojishop/author/7197164/ja
• English LINE stamp: https://store.line.me/stickershop/product/28422389/
• French LINE stamp: https://store.line.me/stickershop/product/29017967/ja

Featured Photo: @junmai_osake

If you love sake as much as Junmai does or are looking to try it for the first time, our Sake-focused tours in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Hiroshima are the perfect way to do so!

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