UP girl from Lucknow crowned Miss Sake India 2025 in New Delhi

New Delhi. India – A Japanese culture enthusiast, Aakansha Srivastava, who casually entered the prestigious Miss Sake India 2025 pageant for an enriching experience without informing her parents, emerged as the winner and was crowned Miss Sake India for the current year to promote the Japanese beverage Sake and culture in India.

A lover of Japanese rice wine Sake, she will be flying to Japan on June 13 for five days to not only have a good time there but also to attend Miss Sake Japan 2025 contest, She is also scheduled to visit many sake breweries to experience first-hand the making of world-known Japanese rice wine Sake and also enjoy it fresh its wide variety.

Menakaa Rai, the Miss Sake India 2024, crowned Aakansha and handed over the baton during a pageant held at the Japan Foundation in New Delhi on April 17 by HIROHAMA CORPORATION. The event marked a vibrant tribute to the art of Japanese sake and the deepening cultural ties between Japan and India.

While talking to Asian Community News just after winning the Miss Sake India 2025 crown, Aakansha said, “I did not tell my parents that I was participating in this contest, and they are yet to be aware that I have won it too. I will inform them now.”

She said, “She loves sake and drinks on very few occasions since it is very expensive in India. I would now get plenty of opportunity not only to learn more about it, but to drink too.”

The panel of jury members included Koji Sato, Director of the Japan Foundation, New Delhi, Menakaa Rai, the Miss Sake India 2024, Mika Eoka, the promoter of Sake Mom and Sake Sommelier, and Kotoko Yamada, Miss Sake Japan 2023. Organiser Kojiro Honda, MD of Hirohama Corporation and KUURAKU Chain of Restaurants, Ambassador of Japan to India Ono Keiich, and Mika Onishi, Representative Director of the Miss SAKE Association, were also present on the occasion.

Other contestants Yengkhom Nganthoi Devi (Thoi) and Sonu Rani (Sonam) were adjudged as Runners-up, while Navneet Kaur and Sakshi Sudhir Deshmukh remained the finalists.

Kojiro Honda, MD of Hirohama Corporation, who handed over the flights tickets to Aakansha during the event, said that she would be flying to Japan on June 13 for five days. “There she would not only attend the Miss Sake Japan 2025 pageant but also visit five sake breweries to understand more sclosely the making process and enrich her knowledge about Sake. She will come back to India to spread more awareness about Sake,” he added.

Aakansha Srivastava, currently a Product Marketing Manager at an American Fintech company in Gurugram, is a storyteller at heart and a strategist by profession. Hailing from Lucknow, she brings with her not only the warmth of her hometown but also over five years of experience in building and growing brands. Her background in marketing is as diverse as it is dynamic, spanning industries, campaigns, and communities, with one common thread: a passion for meaningful connections.

Her journey with Japan began quietly in 2016, when she stumbled upon a book on Japanese culture in her college library. That single moment sparked a deep curiosity, one that grew into a lasting love for Japan’s literature, cinema, traditions, and cuisine. She found herself drawn to the quiet elegance of Japanese life and fascinated by the cultural overlaps with India—shared values of respect, tradition, and a deep appreciation for food and hospitality.

As Miss Sake India, Aakansha now has the opportunity to combine her professional skills and personal passion to promote Japan’s iconic beverage, sake, across India. But for her, sake is more than just a drink—it’s a symbol of Japan’s craftsmanship, care, and cultural depth. She believes it’s time for Indian audiences to discover the stories behind sake and experience it not just as a beverage, but as an invitation into a rich and nuanced heritage.

At the same time, Aakansha hopes to inspire the people of Japan to explore the vibrancy of Indian culture—the spices, stories, traditions, and genuine warmth that define Indian hospitality. She sees herself as a bridge between two cultures she deeply respects, and hopes to use her platform to spark curiosity, dialogue, and mutual appreciation.

Whether she’s strategizing a campaign, discovering a new bowl of ramen, or sharing sake at a tasting event, Aakansha brings energy, empathy, and a love for stories that connect. Through this journey, she hopes to create more than conversations—she wants to build lasting cultural friendships between India and Japan.