Drinker’s Guide to Japan

Japanese alcohol remains one of the world’s great drinking enigmas – always alluring, sometimes intimidating and often misunderstood. The Drinker’s Guide to Japan cuts through the hyperbole and mystique with a bold, pretension-free approach that’s about real drinking and not theory: what to order, where to drink it, and how to do so with confidence, whether you’re in a neon-lit alleyway in Osaka or browsing exotic bottles back home.

Written by Tokyo-based restaurateur and Japanese alcohol expert Wayne Shennen and internationally bestselling author Jesse Fink, this book distils years of on-the-ground research and knowledge into clear, practical guidance. You won’t become an expert, but you will drink better – freed from guesswork, clumsy translations and the lingering sense that Japanese alcohol is just too complicated to even try.

Lavishly illustrated with stunning location photography from across the country, The Drinker’s Guide to Japan is both a visual journey and an indispensable companion. Like travel itself, it will open new doors – transforming Japanese drinks and drinking culture from something inscrutable, privileged and confounding into something thrilling, accessible and deeply rewarding.

Wayne Shennen (Author)
Wayne Shennen was born in Auckland, New Zealand, and grew up in Tauranga. He is the co-author (with Jesse Fink) of The Drinker’s Guide to Japan. Shennen started his career in hospitality in 2002, working as far afield as Australia, Brazil, Japan and England, and gained certifications from the Court of Master Sommeliers, Wine Scholar Guild and the Sake Education Council. He has worked in sake breweries in Ishikawa, Saga and Gifu prefectures and written and presented films for the Japanese Sake and Shochu Makers Association. Shennen is regularly invited to speak about Japanese alcohol at international festivals and events for foreign dignitaries in Japan. He speaks Japanese and owns and runs Rangitoto Tokyo, a restaurant and bar in Ochanomizu, Tokyo. He lives in Tokyo with his Japanese wife, Makie, and their young son, Kauri.

Jesse Fink (Author)
Jesse Fink was born in London and grew up in Sydney, Australia. He is the author or co-author of seven books, including The Drinker’s Guide to Japan (with Wayne Shennen), The Eagle in the Mirror, Pure Narco, Bon: The Last Highway and The Youngs: The Brothers Who Built AC/DC. He lives in Bedfordshire with his English wife, Alexis, and has an adult daughter, Billie, who lives in Australia.