Artisan SakeMaker has always been a hands-on business, shaped by the people who make the sake, welcome guests, tend the shop, and keep the larger rice and fermentation story moving forward. Behind every bottle, tasting flight, pairing, and product is a small team helping sake feel more approachable, more local, and more at home on the West Coast.
Masataka “Masa” Shiroki
Founder and CEO
Masataka “Masa” Shiroki is the founder and CEO of Artisan SakeMaker, where he has spent two decades helping shape Canadian sake through small-batch production, sake education, BC-grown rice, and West Coast food pairing.
Born and raised in Katsuyama, Fukui, Japan, Masa came to Canada in 1994 and later brought together his background in trade, market development, wine education, and Japanese food and beverage culture to build Artisan SakeMaker. Before opening the production facility, he studied wine through the International Sommelier Guild to better understand how Canadian wine drinkers experience aroma, flavour, texture, and pairing.
Today, Masa continues to lead the team while staying closely involved in sake production, staff education, promotion, sales, marketing, and rice farming. His work spans the sensory details of fermentation, the technical discipline of koji making, and the long-term effort to grow rice in British Columbia.
Yukiko Shiroki
General Manager
Yukiko Shiroki has helped build Artisan SakeMaker from its earliest years into a small-batch sake producer, tasting room, and sake-led retail business on Granville Island. Working alongside Masa Shiroki, she has helped bring structure and steadiness to a business shaped by Japanese tradition, local ingredients, and a long-term vision for Canadian-grown rice.
As general manager of Artisan SakeMaker and Sake & Tapas Central, Yukiko works across the systems and daily decisions that support both guests and staff. Her work sits behind much of the experience, from administration, ordering, and staff support to training, store presentation, and the practical details that help the space feel welcoming, organized, and ready for people discovering sake in a new way.
She is especially connected to the company’s work with sake kasu, Orizée skincare, rice, condiments, amazake, and other sake-related products that reflect Artisan SakeMaker’s commitment to sustainability and circular use.