History
- 1969
- JanuaryBeverage Management Researching Group (B.M.R.G.) founded
- MarchFirst wine seminar held
- 1976
- JanuaryB.M.R.G. renamed to Japan Sommelier Association
- 1979
- AugustCommemoration ceremony for the Association's 10th anniversary held at the Palace Hotel.
First Master Sommelier Certification Examination conducted
- 1982
- AugustFirst seminar on basic technical skills of a sommelier held
- NovemberJ.S.A. Kansai chapter formed
- 1984
- NovemberCommemoration ceremony for the Association's 15th anniversary held at the Hotel Grand Palace.
- 1985
- OctoberFirst Sommelier Appellative Qualifying Certification Examination conducted
- NovemberAssociation becomes Incorporated Association, Japan Sommelier Association;
celebration ceremony held at Takanawa Prince Hotel
Katsumi Asada appointed president
- 1986
- AprilBecomes member of the International Sommelier Association (A.S.I.)
- SeptemberFirst study tour of wine-producing region
- OctoberFirst Wine Advisor Appellative Qualifying Examination conducted
- 1987
- DecemberFirst seminar for Senior Sommelier Appellative Qualifying Examination; Examination conducted
- 1988
- JanuaryHeadquarter office relocated from Tokorozawa to Roppongi, Minato-ku
- 1989
- JuneJ.S.A. Kyushu chapter formed
- JulyCommemoration ceremony for the Association's 20th anniversary held at Shin Takanawa Prince Hotel
First Sommelier d' Honneur inauguration ceremony
J.S.A. Tohoku chapter formed
- 1990
- JanuaryJ.S.A. Hokkaido chapter formed
- DecemberFirst Senior Wine Advisor Appellative Qualifying Seminar and Examination
- 1992
- March J.S.A. Tokai chapter formed
- MayHeadquarter office relocated from Roppongi to Shibakoen, Minato-ku
- 1993
- NovemberJ.S.A. Okinawa chapter formed
- 1994
- February20th of every month designated as "Wine Day"
- 1995
- MayHosted and organized the 8th World Sommelier Competition held in Tokyo, Japan
Winner: Shinya Tasaki
1st Wine Advisor National Competition held
- 1996
- September1st Wine Expert Appellative Qualifying Examination conducted
- November1st All-Japan Best Sommelier Competition held
Winner: Ishida Hiroshi
- DecemberJapan Sommelier Association Website launched
- 1997
- JanuaryJapan Sommelier Association ID Membership Card issued
- FebruaryTakashi Atsuta appointed president of Japan Sommelier Association
- 1998
- MarchJ.S.A. East Kanto chapter formed
- AprilJ.S.A. West Kanto chapter formed
- NovemberCo-hosted All-Japan Sommelier of the Highest Skills Competition for French wine and spirits
2nd All-Japan Best Sommelier Competition held.
Winner: Hiroshi Ishida
- 1999
- JulyWine Advisor sticker designed
- OctoberProduction of video "Sommelier e no Michi" (The Way to Becoming a Sommelier)
- DecemberCorrespondence wine education program launched
- 2000
- SeptemberAppellative qualification certificate card system started
- October10th World Best Sommelier Competition held in Montreal; Hiroshi Ishida receives 3rd prize
- 2001
- MayHeadquarter relocated from Shibakoen to Jingumae, Shibuya-ku
- JuneJ.S.A. Joshinetsu chapter formed
- July1st "Brush-up" seminar for those with appellative qualification held
- 2002
- April3rd All-Japan Best Sommelier Competition held
winner: Makoto Abe
- November1st Venensiador official appellative qualification certification examination held
(Co-organized with the Japan Sommelier Association, National Bartenders Association (N.B.A.), and Hotel Barmen Association (H.B.A.)
- 2003
- AprilConstruction of Japan Sommelier Association Building completed (relocated from Jingumae to Kanda, Chiyoda-ku)
- June1st All Japan Wine Expert Competition held
Production of video · DVD: "Shin Sommelier e no Michi" (Revised: The Way to Becoming a Sommelier)
- 2004
- MayWebsite renewed, Open Square/Wine Mura (wine village) opened
- October11th World Best Sommelier Competition held in Athens, Greece
- 2005
- FebruaryKazuyoshi Kogai appointed president
- October4th All-Japan Best Sommelier Contest held
Winner: Yoichi Sato
- 2006
- AugustBasic Skills Seminar and Sommelier Appellative Qualifying First Stage examination conducted (same day)
- 2007
- JanuaryJ.S.A. East Kanto chapter and J.S.A. West Kanto chapter merged to form J.S.A. Kanto chapter
J.S.A. Chugoku-Shikoku chapter formed, dividing from J.S.A. Kansai chapter
- April1st Senior Wine Expert Appellative Qualifying examination conducted
- May12th World Best Sommelier Competition held in Rhode Island, Greece
- OctoberKazuyoshi Kogai appointed Chairman of the International Sommelier Association (A.S.I.)
- 2008
- October5th All-Japan Best Sommelier Competition held
Winner: Satoru Mori
- NovemberShinya Tasaki appointed Vice Chairman of International Sommelier Association (A.S.I.), responsible for Asia / Oceania
- DecemberOpen Square/Wine Mura (wine village) closed
- 2009
- MarchJ.S.A. Tohoku chapter divided; J.S.A. Northern Tohoku chapter and J.S.A. South-Tohoku chapter formed
Website renewed
- November 1st Association of Sommellerie Internationale (A.S.I.) Asia-Oceania Best Sommelier Competition held in Osaka
Winner: Satoru Mori
- 2010
- JanuaryJ.S.A. Chugoku and J.S.A. Shikoku chapter divided; J.S.A. Chugoku chapter and J.S.A. Shikoku chapter formed
J.S.A. Kyushu chapter divided; J.S.A. Kitakyushu chapter and J.S.A. South Kyushu chapter formed
- April13th World Best Sommelier Competition held in Chile
- OctoberMasaharu Oka appointed president of Japan Sommelier Association
- NovemberShinya Tasaki appointed president of the Sommellerie Internationale (A.S.I.)
- 2011
- JanuaryNew logo launched
- October6th All-Japan Best Sommelier Competition held
Winner: Nobuhide Tani
1st "Sommelier Scholarship" Competition held
- 2012
- May2nd A.S.I. Asia-Oceania Best Sommelier Competition held in Korea
- AugustAssociation changes its legal structure from an incorporated association to a general incorporated corporation
- September1st International A.S.I. Sommelier Diploma Certification Examination held
- 2013
- MarchHosted and organized the 14th World Best Sommelier Competition held in Tokyo
- 2014
- January1st Sommelier Master Class Seminar held
- March1st Sommelier Basic Skills Follow-up Seminar held
- July1st Wine Certification examination (Silver Level) held
- October7th All-Japan Best Sommelier Competition held
Winner: Hiroshi Ishida
- 2015
- November3nd A.S.I. Asia-Oceania Best Sommelier Competition held in Hong Kong
- 2016
- FebruaryShinya Tasaki appointed president of Japan Sommelier Association
- April15th World Best Sommelier Competition held in Argentina
Website renewed
- SeptemberJ.S.A.Tasting Seminar held
- 2017
- February31 chapters formed in all of Japan
- April8th All-Japan Best Sommelier Competition held Winner: Ayumu Iwata
- November1st Blind Tasting Contest held
