Sakaya NYC Blog

If you’re passionate about sake and want to know the answers to the manifold questions that naturally come to mind when drinking this amazing elixir, here’s  the opportunity to learn from the most knowledgeable guy on the subject right here in New York City.   John has been an inspiration not only to us but to a community of people who you’ll find available to you too when you take his course.

Here’s all you need to know to sign up.  And take it from us, he’s good for his guarantee that the course leaves “no sake stone unturned.”

As summer both unofficially (post Memorial Day) and officially (with the Summer Solstice) kicks off in June, we’ve focused our tastings on sake that are perfect for seasonal  sipping separately,  or with grilling favorites.  Clean, light, and dry for the former and bold and fruity for the latter, this month’s selections will ensure that you’ll have a great sake for all of your summer celebrations. 

Saturday, June 4, 2011, 5-7pm

Toyo Bijin Junmai Ginjo Tasting (Yamaguchi)

Saturday, June 11, 2011, 5-7pm

Taisetsu Junmai Ginjo Tasting (Hokkaid0)

Saturday, June 18, 2011, 5-7pm

Kamoshibito Kuheiji Junmai Ginjo Tasting (Aichi)

Saturday, June 25, 2011, 5-7pm

JFC Sake Tasting

Mizubasho Ginjo (Gunma)

Our exciting lineup of  tastings in May includes visits from Miho Imada, the toji (master brewer) from Imada Brewing Company, producer of Fukucho sake and Nobuo Shoji, President of Yumekokoro Brewery which makes Naraman Muroka Junmai.

We also continue our “Drink Sake to Help Japan” series with more super sake from the Tohoku breweries in the earthquake and tsunami zone.  Please join us in showing your support for these brewers and their local economies by spreading the good word about their sake.

Saturday, May 7, 2011, 5-7pm

Fukucho Tasting

Fukucho Moon on the Water Junmai Ginjo & Biho Junmai Ginjo (Hiroshima)

Saturday, May 14, 2011, 5-7pm

Drink Sake to Help Japan

Okunomatsu Tokubetsu Junmai (Fukushima) & Hoyo Genji Tokubetsu Junmai (Miyagi)

Thursday, May 19, 2011, 6-8pm

Yumegokoro Brewery Tasting (Fukushima)

Naraman Muroka Junmai

Saturday, May 21, 2011, 5-7pm

Drink Sake to Help Japan

Urakasumi Junmai (Miyagi) & Ichinokura Himezen Junmai (Miyagi)

After launching this year’s Masumi Arabashiri and  Chokaisan Junmai Ginjo Nigori Namazake in NYC, the focus of  our April tastings shifts to showing our support for the brewers in the area of Japan affected by the earthquake and tsunami disaster.   For the balance of this month and into May,  we will feature sake from Miyagi, Iwate, and Fukushima prefectures as one small means of contributing to aiding the recovery.   Please join us to show your support through sake!

Saturday, April 2, 2011, 5-7pm

Miyasaka Brewery Namazake Tasting (Nagano)

Masumi Arabashiri Junmai Ginjo

Saturday, April 9, 2011, 5-7pm

Winebow Sake Tasting

Chokaisan Junmai Ginjo Nama Nigori (Akita)

Saturday, April 16, 2011, 5-7pm

Drink Sake to Support Japan

Daishichi Minowamon Junmai Daiginjo (Fukushima) & Ken Daiginjo (Fukushima)

Saturday, April 23, 2011, 5-7pm

Drink Sake to Support Japan

Urakasumi Zen Junmai Ginjo (Miyagi) & Nanbu Bijin Daiginjo (Iwate)

Saturday, April 30, 2011, 5-7pm

Drink Sake to Support Japan

Naraman Junmai (Fukushima) & Hakurakusei Tokubetsu Junmai (Miyagi)

If you share our concern for the sake brewers located in the earthquake/tsunami zone in the prefectures comprising the Tohoku region, you’ll be interested in John Gauntner’s  recent compilation of information on their status.

We continue to urge you to show your support for them and all of the people affected by this tragedy by donating to the Japan Society’s Japan Earthquake Relief Fund.

We are honored  to be collaborating with Wall Street Journal Wine Columnist, Lettie Teague in a special  JapanNYC event at Carnegie Hall on Thursday, March 31 at 7:30pm.    A lively dialogue discussing the parallels and contrasts between premium sake and fine wine will be followed by a tasting of four terrific sake all for an incredibly reasonable $20.

Please see the Carnegie Hall site for details.  We hope to see you there!

Our hearts go out to the victims of the March 11, 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami disaster and their families.   Like us, many of you may have friends or family in Japan or as sake enthusiasts feel a bond with the people and their culture.   Although we are separated by a great distance, that bond has engendered a closeness that makes this tragedy particularly wrenching.

If you would like to offer your assistance,  we urge you to support the relief effort by contributing to The Japan Society of New York Earthquake Relief Fund.

We know that Spring is just around the corner because the hatsushibori (early Spring release namazake) has arrived!   In fact the theme of our March tastings could be new arrivals since both  Yuki no Bosha Junmai Yamahai and Kozaemon Tokubetsu Junmai are two of the most recent additions to our selection of premium artisanal nihonshu.

Saturday, March 5, 2011, 5-7pm

Joto Sake Import Sake Tasting

Yuki no Bosha Junmai Yamahai (Akita)

Friday, March 11, 2011, 6-8pm

Spring Namazake Tasting

Tokagen Tokubetsu Junmai Nama (Okayama) & Harushika Shiboribana Junmai Ginjo Nama (Nara)

Saturday, March 19, 2011, 5-7pm

Japan Prestige Sake Association Sake Tasting

Tokagen Tokubetsu Junmai Nama (Okayama) & Harushika Shiboribana Junmai Ginjo Nama (Nara)]

Saturday, March 26, 2011, 5-7pm

JFC Sake Tasting

Kozaemon Tokubetsu Junmai (Gifu)

For our first vacation since opening SAKAYA in December 2007, we closed the store to visit sake brewers in Miyagi, Yamagata, and Akita prefectures. which are located in the Tohoku region well-known for growing rice.

We first visited 287 year-old Urakasumi Brewery located outside of Sendai City, Miyagi.

Old fashioned way of straining water using bamboo basket after washing and soaking rice.

At Take no Tsuyu Brewery in Tsuruoka, Yamagata.  CEO, Aisawa-san (left) with workers in the koji muro

Newspaper journalists taking photo of Rick working.

Kamenoi Brewery known for making Kudoki Jozu sake brand.

Temperature controlled sake tank for storage.

Rick tasting moromi at Kamenoi Brewery.

The historic Sankyo Storehouses in Sakata built in 1893 for rice.

Dinner with Kodama-san, CEO of  Kodama Brewery in Akita.

View of Japan Ocean/East Sea with Sait0- san,  CEO of  Saiya Brewery.

Saiya Brewery in Yuri Honjo, Akita, known for Yuki no Bosha brand.

Takahashi Toji talks about sake yeast at Saiya Brewery.

At Asamai Brewery in Akita, known for Ama no To “Heaven’s Door” brand sake.

Moriya Toji, brewmaster of Asamai Brewery, famous for his love of cooking, served us some of his otsumami (sake kasu marinated food) with the freshly pressed Ama no To sake.

Moromi at Hinomaru Sake Brewery.  Rice used in this moromi is Sake Komachi rice.

With Hinomaru Sake Brewery’s  Takahashi toji (seems to be a popular name for toji in Akita!)

Microbiologist, Dr. Konno with koji mold produced by his company.

Visiting Mr. Ito, the president of Akita Seishu Brewery, maker of Dewatsuru brand sake at his historic home.

Very old-school fune (sake pressing machine).

Tasting the newest sake brand at Akita Seishu Brewery.

Trying to find Yokote Station on snow covered street in Yokote, Akita.