SAKE DAY’25 – The 20Th Anniversary Wrap-Up

It’s sort of funny for me to write a “wrap-up” for SAKE DAY when I didn’t taste one sake during the entire event. I never do, and it kills me each and every year. The Director of SAKE DAY Mei Ho and I joke that SAKE DAY for us is like a wedding where all of your friends are there, but you don’t get to talk to anybody. The worst part for me is the knowledge that is there on the floor, the knowledge of the sake brewery owners, the master sake brewers, the importers, the distributors, the sake scholars, and of course this year the Sake Samurai, that I don’t get to learn from and enjoy. It’s a bummer for us, but it’s a boon for you amazing sake guests that treat SAKE DAY as a thinking event and not just a drinking event. 

This year had many records. One of which was the speed that SAKE DAY sold out was incredible, and a testament to the popularity and originality of this event. Let me speak to this for a second. First, we are eternally grateful to the attendees who are mostly (and proudly) repeat “offenders” and come year after year. We build SAKE DAY for you! So when folks ask us to move to a bigger venue for 3,000-4,000 people, it doesn’t make sense, as we would lose control of the event. And, we are comfortable being in Japantown close to the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California (the beneficiaries). Secondly, we had a record number of sake brewery owners and tojis (master brewers) in attendance, and some were only attending as guests. This means a ton to Mei and I, as we feel their presence and participation adds more meaning, and creates a better hand-sell for sake and their products. Sadly, I met most of the brewery owners who I didn’t know during the SAKE DAY break down, but just shaking their hand made it awesome for me. The best refrain that I heard from some of the “Kuramotos” was how smart the guests (you) were, and how they feel a new enthusiasm and love for the export market. Bingo! That’s why we do it! 

Also, this year we had a special guest and a new table from The Consulate General of Japan that was heavily visited by the guests of SAKE DAY '25. Please click here www.sf.us.emb-japan.go.jp to read about Consulate General Kotaro Otsuki who presented us the Consulate General’s Commendation to True Sake and SAKE DAY on our 20th Anniversary. It was pretty cool and I think our new Consulate General was blown away by how much you, the Bay Area, and the entire US International Sake Market has done for the betterment of sake.  

Some of my observations in bullet format:

• www.sf.us.emb-japan.go.jp 

• We had two lines around the block this year. The first was for the original “get there first” crew. The second was the crew who wanted to avoid the first line and came a half hour later and extended the line around the block. Sorry for this, but we were told the SAKE DAY Team did an excellent job registering and processing you in record time, and we heard the wait was roughly 20 minutes. 

• The big white sign for SAKE DAY 2025 was filled with names, autographs, and sake thoughts by 6:15. It was completely covered so quickly and that means a lot to me as I really value these treasures. 

• The Welcome Sake was a hit! We heard countless accolades for the Heiwa Shuzo KID Junmai Daiginjo, and Shacho (owner) and his Toji (Head Brewer) stayed at the front of the line pouring for longer than any welcome sake donor, which means they were having a blast. 

• We had some of the biggest names in sake walking around and pouring. From 12 Sake Samurai, which had never been seen before in the history of Sake Samurai, to some of the top educators in the sake world (John Gauntner and Michael Tremblay), to the owners and brewers of incredible breweries such as Nishida Denshu, Narutotai, Gokyo, Kikusui, Hiroki, Emishiki, Ryujin, Matsunotsukasa, Izumibashi, Banshu Ikkon, Nanbu Bijin, Daijiro, Minakata, Katafune, Katsuyama, Gasanryu, Hachidori (Stuart M), Heiwa Shuzo, Urakasumi, Aizu Homare, Ichinokura, Tenjo Mugen, Housen, Kagamiyama, Tenko, Kuncho, Midorikawa, Taiun, Mii No Kotobuki, Nabeshima, Wakatake Onikoroshi, and The SAKE DAY “International Sake Soul of the Year” Award winner Mr. Masao Aisawa of Takenotsuyu. Apologies in advance if I left anyone out.

• And another 1st was the fact that the Consulate General of Japan not only attended, but had a table under the banner of the Consulate General of Japan. He also bestowed an award certificate on SAKE DAY for the 20th Anniversary, which is pretty cool. 

• Dassai Blue Nigori was launched at SAKE DAY. Apologies if I left out any other brand launches at SAKE DAY.

And the show goes on! Please circle your calendar for Saturday September 26th 2026 for SAKE DAY’26 the 21st Anniversary. Hell Ya!