IIAWFIIDATAINo.11, 2022［ Spring Special Issue］The Shinro Shimbun Hawaii Edition15A memorable moment with former US President Barack Obama visiting the Island Vintage Wine Bar as a guestMr. Ryuta Iihama is a wine sommelier and general manager at the popular Island Vintage Wine Bar in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA. Born and raised in Honolulu, Iihama spent his high school years studying in Japan. He looked back on his career path and sent a message to young Hawaiians looking to study in Japan or get a job in the tourism industry.― Tell us about your current job. work as a wine sommelier at the Island Vintage Wine Bar, a restaurant in Honolulu, Hawaii.When we receive an order of wine, we narrow down the kinds that suit the customer's taste by listening to the kinds and tastes of wine they are familiar with. Some people want a different type of wine. We prepare rare wines to respond to customer's needs, and we communicate with customers to try to find wines that suit their taste.I am also a general manager. I am in charge of management related to store management, including shift management and education for employees.― What led you to work as a wine sommelier?used to work for a company that purchases alcohol. I had the opportunity to study wine. I liked to drink wine and the more I learned, the more I became interested in wine. I got a job at the restaurant I currently work at because I thought I could acquire knowledge and skills faster than studying at a desk. I am now working with a strong desire to convey the beauty of wine to as many people as possible.― Tell us what you are particularly aware of when working.― What are the most difficult aspects?nother reason I got a job at the restaurant was because there was a wine director who had the Master of Sommelier, a world-renowned wine qualification. There are many things I can learn by actually observing them closely, such as what the wine director, a wine selection professional, selects wines based on.e try to provide detailed services so that customers will want to visit us many times. In order to do that, we need to research what kind of service is required. We also put emphasis on thorough education for our employees. We regularly instruct our employees to work with seriously.ood preferences vary so much from person to person that my standard of “delicious” doesn't always work. It's not easy to find someone's favorite taste, but that's part of the job. To increase your choices, you need to broaden your knowledge and perspective on wine. These days, I try not to just drink wine, but to drink it while thinking about the taste and flavor.― What kind of situations do you find rewarding?t is a great moment of accomplishment when the wine I recommended matches the customer's taste and they are happy. In addition, despite Hawaii having many famous restaurants, it is very rewarding that tourists with limited stay visit our restaurant many times.― We heard you played soccer in Japan when you were a high school student.belonged to a local soccer club from my childhood. When I was in junior high school, I had a chance to play soccer with Japanese students who were attending universities in Hawaii then. When I heard about the National High School Football Tournament from them, I had a strong desire to play football at a Japanese high school because the scale and attention are very different from Hawaii. However, when I talked to my parents, they didn't agree with me right away. Actually, the manager of the soccer club I belonged to was Japanese and he was from a Japanese school with a strong soccer club, so I tried to persuade my parents with the help of the coach. In the end, I was able to study soccer for three years at Seibudai High School in Saitama Prefecture, where the team members worked hard on club activities.uring the three years I studied in Japan, my life centered on club activities. I couldn't get selected as a member of the squad in the end, but I didn't regret it at all because I worked hard on my favorite football at a strong school. Unfortunately, I was aware that I wasn't good enough to become a professional soccer player, so I was ready to change my mind and try the next thing without hesitation. I am very grateful to my parents for supporting me.― Please tell us about your career after high school.t that time, I thought that I would never be able to improve myself once I returned to Hawaii, so after graduating from Seibudai High School, I went to college in the state of California in the United States. In college, ●Profi leBorn in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA in 1988. He lived with his Japanese parents in Honolulu until his junior high school days. In April 2004, he studied soccer at Seibudai High School in Niiza City, Saitama Prefecture, and immersed himself in soccer for 3 years. After graduation, he attended California State University Dominguez Hills (California, USA). Since August 2021, he has been working at the Island Vintage Wine Bar in Honolulu, Hawaii, as a wine sommelier and general manager.I studied Sports, Entertainment and Hospitality. What I learned deeply about the service industry in general, such as restaurants and hotels, has led to my current job.― Your message to young Hawaiians interested in tourism and studying in Japan?ourism has been severely affected by the spread of COVID-19. As the number of tourists has decreased significantly, it is difficult to manage the business in a stable manner. Instead of targeting only tourists, we must come up with new services and proposals that will satisfy local residents. I think you can respond flexibly in an emergency by always thinking about various plans.lso, being able to speak Japanese will give you a better chance of working if you are involved in tourism in Hawaii. Even if the honorifics are a little insufficient, we can convey the spirit of hospitality to customers with our attitude and expression. It is important to show a willingness to serve. Also, if you have the slightest desire to study in Japan, try it out. It's common to have difficulties without someone to turn to, but it can be an opportunity to make yourself stronger.― What are your future goals?n order to promote the excellence of wine, I would like to hold a wine event for a wide range of people from beginners to experts. As part of this process, I am currently studying to increase my knowledge about wine. Unfortunately, the climate of Hawaii is not conducive to winemaking, so compared to the continental United States, Hawaii does not have a well-established wine culture. I can't say that it is a great environment by any means, but on the other hand, I will continue to take on the challenge as an opportunity to spread the wine culture.Written in two languagesThe key to success is to stick to your will without being distracted by the opinions of others.We can pave the way by actively pursuing what interests us.Mr. Ryuta Iihama
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