Generally, when people hear the word "sommelier," many assume it means "a professional in the field of wine." However, the definition given by the Japan Sommelier Association, which administers sommelier certification exams in Japan, is slightly different.
According to this, a sommelier is "a professional who belongs to one of the following categories: food and beverage, purchasing, management, import/export, distribution, sales, educational institutions, or alcoholic beverage production, and who has specialized knowledge and tasting skills regarding alcoholic beverages, beverages, and food in general. ( Japan Sommelier Association )"
This definition does not include the word "wine" and states that a sommelier is a "professional in food, beverages, and alcoholic beverages." This conforms to the definition of a sommelier set by the International Sommelier Association, of which the Japan Sommelier Association is a member.
While the majority of questions on the sommelier exam are wine-related, to actually be a successful sommelier, a wide range of specialized knowledge and tasting skills are required not only about wine but also about other beverages and cuisines.
In fact, people with sommelier qualifications work in a wide variety of places. Some work in restaurants and bars, while others are involved in the import/export and distribution of wine and other beverages, some work as educators, and some produce alcoholic beverages.
In Japan, in addition to the Japan Sommelier Association, there is also a sommelier qualification certified by the All Japan Sommelier Federation. Applicants can take the required course offered by the federation and then take the certification exam.
By the way, in France and Italy, "sommelier" is a "national qualification" approved by the government, but in Japan it is a "private qualification."
However, even though it is a private qualification, "sommelier" is recognized as a unique occupation by the government (it is clearly listed as an occupation in the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare's occupational classification), so it is treated as a separate occupation when it comes to job recruitment and job placement.
