Fukushima Prefecture has won the most Gold Prizes at the century-old Japan Sake Awards for nine years in a row. Sake from Fukushima is created with unmatched craftsmanship and the finest taste. While famous in Japan, Fukushima sake is still not well known to the outside world.

To introduce New Yorkers to the delights of Fukushima sake, the Fukushima Trade Promotion Council is hosting two free sake tastings at Union Square Wines & Spirits on January 23 and 24. Nobuhiro Hosoi, Sake Master and President of Kokken Brewery, and Nobuo Shoji, Sake Master and President of Yumegokoro Brewery, are traveling from Fukushima to pour sake for New Yorkers. There will be seven different brands from three different breweries on January 23 and eight brands on January 24 to enjoy.

Featured Sake on January 23

Junmai Kokken from Kokken Brewery
Yamahai Junmai Kokken from Kokken Brewery
Junmai Daiginjo NARAMAN from Yumegokoro Sake Brewery
NARAMAN Junmai-shu Muroka Binhiire from Yumegokoro Sake Brewery
Aizu Chujo – Junmai Ginjo Yumenokaori from Tsurunoe Shuzo
Aizu Chujo – Junmai from Tsurunoe Shuzo
Aizu Chujo – Junmai Ginjo Yuri from Tsurunoe Shuzo

Featured Sake on January 24

Daiginjo Kokken from Kokken Brewery
Tokubetsu Junmai Kokken Yume no Kaori from Kokken Brewery
Uka Black Label Organic Junmai Daiginjo from Ninki Brewery
Uka Dry Organic Junmai Daiginjo from Ninki Brewery
Uka Sparkling Sake Organic Junmai Daiginjo from Ninki Brewery
Masakura Kimoto Junmai Ginjo from Daishichi Sake Brewery
Kimoto Umeshu from Daishichi Sake Brewery
Tenmei Junmai Hi-ire Orange Label from Akebono Sake Brewery

Enjoy a 15% discount on the featured sake that will be poured and 10% discount on all Fukushima sake on the days the tastings.

Walk-ins are welcome, but RSVPs are appreciated. Please visit the Fukushima Trade Promotion Council’s Eventbrite page to RSVP to the January 23 tasting and/or the January 24 tasting.

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Susan McCormac 11/15/23 Susan McCormac 11/15/23

Discover the tastes of Miyagi at Japan Village

“Tastes of Miyagi”

Friday, November 17 through Sunday, November 19 from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.

Kuraichi – 267 36th Street, Brooklyn

Admission: Free

The Miyagi Prefectural Government, in collaboration with Kuraichi and Japan Village, will host the “Tastes of Miyagi,” an event that aims to introduce the local sake of Miyagi Prefecture to New Yorkers. This three-day free tasting will feature different sake products each day and take place at Kuraichi, a specialty sake and Japanese spirits shop at Japan Village.

For a limited time, customers who purchase any sake from Miyagi will receive a free furoshiki (Japanese traditional wrapping cloth) and will be eligible to purchase the very rare and precious Date Seven sake.

Featured Sake Products

Katsuyama Junmai Ginjo KEN
Tanaka 1789ｘChartier Blend 001 Vintage 2018
Hoyo “Kura no Hana” Fair Maiden
Hoyo “Manamusume” Farmer’s Daughter
Tokubetsu Honjozo Sake, Atago no Matsu
Tokubetsu Junmai Sake “The Connoisseur” Hakurakusei
Genshu Urakasumi
Himezen Sweet Junmai

Image from @japanvillagebrooklyn on Instagram

“Tastes of Miyagi” Food Booth

November 18 from 12:00 p.m. (one day only!)

In conjunction with this event, there will also be a special one-day “Tastes of Miyagi” food booth inside the Japan Village food court, where customers can purchase Miyagi’s special local cuisine and pair these dishes with Miyagi’s sake.Offerings include harako-meshi, a seasoned rice bowl topped with cooked salmon and roe, and kaki-fry, deep-fried oysters.

For more information, please follow Visit Miyagi on Instagram.

Susan McCormac 9/12/23 Susan McCormac 9/12/23

MEET THE BREWERS

Soul of Sake "Meet the Brewers" x Accidental Bar

Sunday, September 17 from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.

Accidental Bar – 98 Loisaida Avenue (Avenue C between 6th and 7th Avenues)

Admission: $68.96 (includes fees)

Join Miss Sake USA Jessica Joly-Crane and Accidental Bar owner Austin Power in celebrating some of their favorite sake brewers, breweries, and prefectures.

Joly-Crane brings her Soul of Sake series to Accidental Bar with brands represented by Sake Discoveries. Guests will have the opportunity to taste more than eleven different kinds of sake from different breweries all over Japan.

Chat with and learn from your favorite sake producers! Light bites will be served. Organizers are partnering with Tippsy Sake to provide a discount code to guests who want to purchase bottles of sake. To purchase tickets, please visit Sake Discoveries’s Eventbrite page.

Featured Producers

Nanbu Bijin "Southern Beauty" – Iwate
President: Kosuke Kuji

Niwa No Uguisu "Nightingale's Garden" – Fukuoka
President: Tetsuo Yamaguchi

Saga Sake Series – Saga
Koimari "Tropical"
Representative: Satoru Maeda

Mitsutake "Crisp"
President: Kunihiro Mitsutake

Amabuki – Saga
Representative: Wataru Hosokawa

Tengumai "Dancing Goblin" – Ishikawa
Representative: Ryosuke Kawamichi

About Sake Discoveries

Sake Discoveries is a New York-based PR company with more than twenty years of experience in the sake industry. Featuring one of the few female Sake Samurais, Chizuko Niikawa-Helton, and Jessica Joly-Crane, Sake Discoveries represents artisanal sake breweries from all over Japan. Having created a strong team of experts in promotion and influencer outreach, the organization spreads awareness about their clients through events, branding, and education. For more information, please visit their website.

Susan McCormac 6/12/23 Susan McCormac 6/12/23

Sample 576 Sakes at The Joy of Sake

The Joy of Sake

Friday, June 16 from 6:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m.

Metropolitan Pavilion – 125 W. 18th Street (between 6th and 7th Avenues)

Admission: $130

The Joy of Sake, the world’s largest sake tasting outside Japan, returns to New York! There will be a record 576 competition-level sakes available to taste alongside sake-inspired appetizers from sixteen top restaurants.

Now in its 22nd year (18th in NYC), The Joy of Sake celebrates the ancient art of sake brewing with a walk-around tasting where attendees can taste the full spectrum of sake styles in the premium daiginjo, ginjo, and junmai categories from every sake-brewing region in Japan. More than 300 sakes are not otherwise available in the U.S.

Sakes are grouped by category so attendees can explore each in depth, including recipients of silver and gold awards from the U.S. National Sake Appraisal, a rigorous blind tasting conducted by ten judges from the U.S. and Japan. This is an opportunity to sample bottles of the actual competition entries in excellent condition.

For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit The Joy of Sake’s website.

Participating Restaurants

15 East @ Tocqueville
75 Degrees Café & Dessert
Amami Bar & Restaurant
BondSt
Gugu Room
Hutong
Insa
J-Spec Wagyu Dining
Juban
Katsuya
Momoya
Rule of Thirds
Sakagura
Towa
Yopparai
Zuma

Popularity of Sake

Sake continues to soar in popularity in the U.S. with imports from Japan more than doubling from 2012 to 2022, while U.S. sake breweries continue to open and expand production. “Sake's popularity is here to stay,” says The Joy of Sake founder Chris Pearce. “It's now a celebration sake lovers in New York look forward to every year.”

About The Joy of Sake

The Joy of Sake is a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering appreciation for the ancient craft of sake making. Now the largest sake tasting outside Japan, the annual event has grown from 124 sakes in 2001 to 576 in 2023. More than half are ultra-premium daiginjo sakes, made from the innermost core of the rice grain. Every year, The Joy of Sake stages events in major cities, presenting hundreds of sakes, many not otherwise available outside Japan, along with sake-themed appetizers from top local restaurants in a lively festival setting.

Susan McCormac 6/5/23 Susan McCormac 6/5/23

Summer Festival: Japanese Food & Drinks

Night Market in Japan Village

Wednesday, June 14 from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.

Japan Village – 934 3rd Avenue, Brooklyn

Admission: $12 Presale | $15 (after presale tickets are sold out)

The first epic Japan Night Market is coming to Japan Village in Industry City, Brooklyn! Night Market Summer Festival will kick off the 2023 season at Japan Village Brooklyn followed by Chelsea in July and Bushwick in August. Celebrate the early summer with mouthwatering Japanese foods and a selected special drink menu.

Upstairs NYC is turning all 20,000 square feet of Japan Village into a night market featuring a variety of food, drink, and crafts.

Food

Wagyu Sushi
Yakitori (Skewers)
Kushiage (Deep-fried Skewers)
Grilled Corn
Ikamaruyaki (Grilled Whole Squid)
Onigiri Rice Ball
Ramen
Curry Rice
Ube and Matcha Cheesecake
Mochi-Filled Cookies
And more!

The price range for food is $10-$15

Special Sake Selection

Sake from Japan by Kubota Sake
Brooklyn Cocktails with a sake spin by Brooklyn Kura and Kato Sake Works
Special Chu-Hi by Takara
Umeshu (plum sake) by Choya

This is a very rare sake experience with many brands in collaboration!

There will also be accessories, candles, outfits, crafts, and more available for purchase.

Japan Village’s large outdoor patio and lanterns offer the perfect backdrop for photos and add to the festive atmosphere! Plus, there will be a display of 100 Hello Kitty balloons! Come dressed in a yukata for the photo booth and make memories.

Night Market is open to the public. Your ticket grants you admission to the event as well as one free drink (sake, chu-hi, or a non-alcoholic beverage) and $5 off one menu item. To purchase tickets, please visit EventCreate.com.

About Upstairs NYC

Formed in 2022, Upstairs NYC is a non-profit organization based in New York City dedicated to promoting friendly relations between New York and other countries. The organization focuses on fostering learning and community engagement across four pillars: arts and culture, lifestyle, technology, and food. Upstairs NYC regularly hosts panel discussions, experiential events, cultural celebrations, and socials. For more information, please visit Upstairs NYC’s website.

About Japan Village

The culture at Japan Village is rooted in omotenashi, a Japanese approach to great hospitality and a mutual respect for guests. The Industry City complex strives to create and nurture a strong Japanese community in Brooklyn. Their mission is to communicate Japanese culture and everyday life through the food served at the food hall and the plethora of ingredients and items that are available at Sunrise Mart. For more information, please visit Japan Village’s website.

Susan McCormac 5/30/23 Susan McCormac 5/30/23

TOSA SAKE WEEK in JUNE

In the Shikoku region of Japan lies Kochi Prefecture, also known as Tosa, where a rich sake-drinking culture has taken root. Historically, sake has had a deep presence in this area, with a wide variety of sake still being produced today. Many of Tosa's sakes are known for their light and dry characteristics, making them a perfect accompaniment to the local delicacy, Katsuo no Tataki (seared bonito). However, there is a growing interest in fruity sakes, which offer a contrasting taste profile compared to conventional brands from Tosa. These fruity sakes are gaining popularity among younger generations and those who are less familiar with sake.

Kochi is actively engaged in research and development of kobo yeast, and the Kochi Prefectural Industrial Technology Center has introduced numerous unique strains of kobo yeast, including CEL 24. The significance of Tosa sake lies in its extensive range of flavors, derived from a diverse array of aromas and tastes. Additionally, the prefecture has successfully cultivated its own sake rice varieties, such as Tosanishiki, Gin no Yume, and Kazenaruko.

TOSA SAKE WEEK in JUNE

Nine breweries from Kochi Prefecture will participate in four sake events held in New York during the third week of June. This is a great opportunity to discover new sake from the Tosa region.

Schedule

Bar Convent Brooklyn

Tuesday, June 13 and Wednesday, June 14 from 11:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.

Industry City – 220 36th Street, Building #8, Brooklyn

The first among this series of Tosa Sake events will be Bar Convent Brooklyn, a B2B gathering that brings together influential figures in the bar industry. Kochi Prefecture will introduce Tosa sake to bar industry professionals, as well as distributors and importers.

Tosa Sake Seminar by Haruhiko Uehigashi

Tuesday, June 13 and Wednesday, June 14 at 2:30 p.m. (Approximately 1 hour)

WakuWaku Outdoor Dining Area in Industry City Courtyard –269 36th Street (between Buildings #3 & #4), Brooklyn

Haruhiko Uehigashi, an expert in kobo yeast, is credited with developing Kochi kobo and has served as an advisor in numerous sake competitions both in Japan and abroad. On June 13 and 14, he will conduct a Tosa Sake seminar at WakuWaku's patio dining area. The seminar is free of charge and will begin at 2:30 p.m. on each day. During the seminar, attendees will have the opportunity to listen to Uehigashi's lecture while sampling six pre-selected sake brands. If you are interested in participating, please make a reservation by sending an email to nori@agentnplus.nyc.

About Haruhiko Uehigashi

Haruhiko Uehigashi, a former researcher at the Kochi Prefectural Industry Technology Center and technical advisor to the Kochi Brewery Association, is a recognized expert in yeast development. He has contributed to the creation of numerous Kochi yeast strains and serves as an advisor in both national and international sake competitions. Some notable roles he has undertaken include:

Sake Competition Jury and Analytical Evaluator from 2012 to 2019 and 2023.
U.S. National Sake Appraisal Jury and Analytical Evaluator from 2015 to 2019, in 2021, and 2022.
Preliminary and final judge in the National New Sake Competition.

During all the Tosa Sake Week events, Uehigashi will be in attendance, presenting an excellent opportunity for attendees to engage in conversation with him at the Kochi booth.

The Joy of Sake

Friday, June 16 from 6:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m.

Metropolitan Pavilion – 125 W. 18th Street (between 6th and 7th Avenues)

Kochi Prefecture will participate in the Joy of Sake, the largest public sake-tasting event outside of Japan. To purchase tickets, please visit the Joy of Sake’s website.

Store Tasting Event at Kuraichi

Saturday, June 17 from 1:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.

Kuraichi – 267 36th Street, Brooklyn

Taste Tosa sake at Kuraichi, sake specialty store in Japan Village. Kuraichi boasts the largest Japanese liquor collection in New York City, carrying sake, shochu, and Japanese whiskies.

Scheduled Participating Breweries

Suigei Brewery
Tsukasabotan Brewery
Tosa Kikusui Brewery
Tosatsuru Brewery
BIJOFU (Hamakawa Shoten Brewery)
Kameizumi Brewery
Fumimoto Brewery
Arimitsu Sake Brewery
Takagi Brewery

Participating breweries differ depending on the event.

This event listing is an advertisement paid for by Tosa Sake from Kochi Prefecture Japan. For more information about Tosa Sake and the scheduled participating breweries, please click HERE.

Melissa Avalon 7/26/22 Melissa Avalon 7/26/22

The Joy of Sake Returns to New York

After a three-year hiatus forced by the pandemic, the Joy of Sake returns to New York for its 17th celebration. There will be an astonishing 576 different labels from throughout Japan and the US available for tasting. Sake-themed appetizers from top New York restaurants add to the enjoyment, making the Joy of Sake the event of the year for the city’s sake enthusiasts.

The Joy of Sake New York

Thursday, August 4 from 6:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m.

Metropolitan Pavilion – 125 W. 18th Street (between 6th and 7th Avenues)

Admission: $120

For a great rundown of what to expect, check out food writer Nancy Matsumoto’s recent sake blog post. The co-author of Exploring the World of Japanese Craft Sake: Rice, Water, Earth, Matsumoto will have a table at the Joy of Sake, selling and signing copies of the gorgeous and informative book.

The admission fee includes unlimited samplings of sake and a dish from all participating restaurants. To purchase tickets, please visit the Joy of Sake’s Eventbrite page.

Participating Restaurants

BondST
En Japanese Brasserie
Insa
Juban
Katsuya
Kimika
Kissaki
Momoya
Rule of Thirds
Sakagura
Sarashina Horii
Sen Sakana
Towa
Yopparai
Zuma

For more details about the event, please visit the Joy of Sake’s website.

Melissa Avalon 12/9/21 Melissa Avalon 12/9/21

The JapanCulture•NYC Holiday Gift Guide – Part V

Still grappling with holiday gift ideas this Christmas Eve? For procrastinators, this is nothing, but for those of you who are more organized, you might be feeling a bit stressed right now. Look at it this way: Remember when we were in the throes of the lockdown in New York City and no one knew what day it was? All was forgiven because, well, 2020. Why would Christmas be any different?

Kanpai!

All of a sudden, we woke up, and it was Christmas Eve. If you send a gift to a friend or family member and it arrives late, does it really matter? It’s the thought that counts, and we should be kind to ourselves. (Procrastinators are pros at justifying our procrastination!)

So, for those super-last-minute gifts, we recommend sake!

Sake is the perfect gift because, let’s face it, everyone could use a drink right now.

In the fifth installment of our 2020 Holiday Gift Guide, we suggest our favorite places to buy sake in New York City. You can support local businesses—which is a major theme of our Holiday Gift Guide every year, but this year in particular—give a boost to Japanese sake breweries, and let someone on your gift list enjoy a taste of Japan.

In no particular order, here are our fave places to buy sake in New York City. These places put you in the holiday spirit(s)!

Sakaya

NYC’s first shop specializing in premium sake

Address: 324 E. 9th Street, New York, NY 10003
Phone: 212-505-7253
Website: sakayanyc.com
Instagram: @sakayanyc

Minoru’s Sake Shop at Landmark Wine and Spirits

A Chelsea liquor store with a huge section dedicated to sake and shochu. Minoru’s Sake Shop is a key supporter of Fukushima sake.

Address: 167 W. 23rd Street, New York, NY 10011
Phone: 212-242-2323
Website: wineon23.com
Instagram: @minorunyc
Holiday Special: Buy one 720 ml bottle of sake from Fukushima, get a 300 ml bottle AND a sake bag!

Minoru’s Sake Shop at Landmark Wine and Spirits

Kuraichi

Brooklyn’s go-to shop for Japanese spirits and sake, located in Japan Village at Industry City

Address: 267 36th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11232
Website: kuraichibk.com
Instagram: @kuraichibk

Union Square Wines and Spirits

Large selection of sake with an area devoted to sake from Fukushima Prefecture

Address: 140 4th Avenue, New York, NY 10003
Phone: 212-675-8100
Website: unionsquarewines.com/sake
Instagram: @usqwines

Ambassador Wines and Spirits

Upscale shop with a walk-in sake fridge

Address: 1020 2nd Avenue, New York, NY 10022
Phone: 212-421-5078
Website: ambassadorwines.com
Free delivery within a 10-block neighborhood range; amount of delivery fee depends on location

Astor Wines and Spirits

Almost 200 artisanal sakes from around the world, stored in temperature-controlled units

Phone: 212-674-7500
Website: astorwines.com
Instagram: @astorwines
Open until 6pm on Christmas Eve!

Cocktails to Go

Sakagura

The mecca of sake in New York City since 1996, Sakagura is now offering a variety of sake flights to go! Check out their website to place an order and get these portable potent potables into the hands of everyone on your gift list! (Order dinner while you’re at it.)

Address: 211 E. 43rd Street, B1, New York, NY 10017
Phone: 212-557-5205
Website: sakagura.com
Instagram: @sakagurany

Angel’s Share

This iconic Japanese speakeasy in the East Village has been whipping up creative to-go cocktails since the early days of the pandemic. The weather outside may be frightful, but the hot and canned cocktails by Angel’s Share are delightful!

Address: 8 Stuyvesant Street (Heated outdoor dining available at street level)
Website: angelssharenyc.com
Instagram: @angelssharetogo

Online Options

If you prefer to order online from the comfort of your own home while wearing pajamas, here are a couple of great services.

Drizly

E-commerce platform for alcohol delivery working with stores in your delivery area. Depending on where you are in the city, there is a wide range of sake, shochu, Japanese beer, and Japanese whisky available. Delivery times range from “Get it now” to next day to two or three days later

Website: drizly.com
Instagram: @drizlyinc

Tippsy

Consider this online sake subscription service to educate someone on your gift list about the beverage. Choose a subscription box or order individual bottles from their selection of more than 200 sakes.

Website: tippsysake.com
Instagram: @tippsysake

$10 shipping fee (Free shipping of six bottles or more)
$10 off your first order with promo code TIPPSYFIRST

Happy Holidays from JapanCulture•NYC! Kanpai!

Free Sake Tasting – Meet the Fukushima Sake Brewers

Featured Sake on January 23

Featured Sake on January 24

“Tastes of Miyagi”

Featured Sake Products

“Tastes of Miyagi” Food Booth

Soul of Sake "Meet the Brewers" x Accidental Bar

Featured Producers

About Sake Discoveries

The Joy of Sake

Participating Restaurants

Popularity of Sake

About The Joy of Sake

Night Market in Japan Village

Food

Special Sake Selection

About Upstairs NYC

About Japan Village

TOSA SAKE WEEK in JUNE

Schedule

Scheduled Participating Breweries

The Joy of Sake New York

Participating Restaurants

Kanpai!

Sakaya

Minoru’s Sake Shop at Landmark Wine and Spirits

Kuraichi

Union Square Wines and Spirits

Ambassador Wines and Spirits

Astor Wines and Spirits

Cocktails to Go

Sakagura

Angel’s Share

Online Options

Drizly

Tippsy

LEARN MORE