Kawai has over 20 years of experience in the Food & Beverage industry, specialising in wines, sake and whisky. His career has been awarded many times by international Agencies such as Japan Sommelier Association, Academy of Wines of Portugal or Society of Wine Educators, only to name the few. However, his life-long dedication was crowned though by the Singapore World Gourmet Series Awards of ExcellenceBest Sommelier of the Year 2013.