Events

The Joy of Sake festival returns to Tokyo

Nov. 1, 2017
24 Comments

The Joy of Sake, the world’s most popular sake tasting outside Japan, returns to the homeland of sake on Nov 1 with 381 premium labels from every sake-brewing region of Japan. The event at Gotanda’s TOC Building marks The Joy of Sake’s eighth year in Japan and follows two record-setting celebrations in the U.S.

In keeping with traditions in Hawaii, where The Joy of Sake began in 2001 and where no celebration is complete without delicious food, 14 restaurants are participating in the event. Michelin-star winners Il Ghiottone (Italian) and Restaurant Kazu (French), Yokohama’s famed Jukei Hanten (Chinese) and Beast Kitchen from Hokkaido are all making return appearances, with Oimachi seafood specialist Makanai-ya making its Joy of Sake debut with a superbly original sushi creation.

joy2.jpg

The combination of hundreds of premium sake choices, outstanding cuisine from top local restaurants and a lively, friendly atmosphere has made the Joy of Sake America’s largest and most popular sake festival. The Honolulu event drew a record 1,600 sake fans to the Hawaii Convention Center in July, and in September The Joy of Sake New York attracted a record 800 attendees. Together, the three events are expected to reach a 3,500 sake fans this year.

“The big draw is without doubt the delicious taste of premium sake, and the opportunity to sample the best,” says Chris Pearce, the event’s organizer. “In recent years the quality of sake has reached new levels because brewers are combining centuries-old traditions with new techniques. It’s a treat to be able to share the wonderful variety of sake being made today.”

joy3.jpg

The Joy of Sake is the public tasting that follows the U.S. National Sake Appraisal, held in Honolulu each summer under the guidance of the Japan National Institute of Brewing. This year, 11 judges from Japan and the U.S. participated in the rigorous two-day blind-tasting. All 381 sakes entered into the competition, including the gold and silver award-winners, will be available for guests’ self-serve sampling at The Joy of Sake Tokyo.

Tickets are ¥8,500 in advance or ¥9500 at the door. To buy tickets online, click here.

For more information, please contact Jan Nagano at jan@joyofsake.com

We're giving away six free tickets

Japan Today is giving away six free tickets to The Joy of Sake event. Simply tell us what your favorite brand of sake is in the comments section below and we will pick the winners by lucky draw.

  • Venue: TOC Building
  • Address: 7-22-17 Nishigotanda, Shinagawa-ku
  • Date: November 1, 2017
  • Time: 06:00 pm JST - 09:00 pm JST
  • Map: Google map
© Japan Today

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

24 Comments
Login to comment

I prefer the small producers in the countrysides. My favorite is Iyo Kagiya (伊予賀儀屋) from Ehime Prefecture. Its nigori sparkling product is outstanding.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

男女川(みなのがわMinanogawa)brand... the nigori milky kind!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

しめはりつる Shimeharitsuru

My father-in-law's make it.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

There are dozens of brands that I love, but I always find myself purchasing "Kokoro no Myako" (こころの京) by Tamano Hikari (玉乃光) brewery from Kyoto. Easy to drink, affordable, delicious.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Murayu Shuzo from Niigata my favourite.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I don't know a lot about sake yet, but I'm falling for the charms of Japanese alcohol. Out of the very few I've tried I absolutely loved the Dassai from Hiroshima. I would love to win the tickets so I can let the world of sake entrance me further.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I haven't tried much sake but I like Ozeki Sake!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I don't know much about sake but the few I've tried have definitely piqued my interest. Forgive me if I sound ignorant here, but out of the few I've tried so far I really liked Dassai from Hiroshima. I would love to win tickets to this sake festival so I can further expand my knowledge when it comes to Japanese sake.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I like Hakushika sake from Hyogo prefecture the most! It has a very traditional taste in my opinion. I always bought in in Holland

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Narutotai Ginjo.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I go often to a place in akasaka that introduced me to 而今(じこん)

and now I am a fan of that brand

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I also enjoy the niigatta specialities especially Kirin-zan Junmai Daiginjo which I tried once after skiing -

I would love to learn a bit more about the regions specialities by participating in this festival.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Aramasa, interesting taste. Depth but I wonder what other sakes differentiate in water or rice.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Uragasumi Daiginjo Shizukuzake from Miyagi is the best. Last Christmas some friends we invited for Christmas dinner presented me with a bottle. Quite difficult to get hold of I'm told.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Hi! I don't have a favorite sake brand, because I didn't taste it ever. I'm from Argentina and I will be there in the next week, and of course, one of my best wishes in there will be taste each brand I could, so I will be glad to have the tickets for that festival. Thanks a lot!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

賀茂金秀 from Hiroshima is my favourite.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

definitely, 8 ocean mountain. 八海山

Be much appreciated for a ticket

thank you

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I love 真澄!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

My favorite is 真澄!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I haven't tried many top brands like others, but Dassai 23 is incredible. Amazing what flavours one can produce with just rice and koji.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

There are so many good ones but if i had to pick a favorite one from my limited experience with sake it would be 幻舞 from Kawanakajima, Nakano. Their 純米大吟醸 is smoooooth and reasonably priced too.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Kurosawa Junmai Kimoto or any rice shochu. I don't always know the brand name, I just know what I like!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

KOSHI NO KANBAI!!!!!!!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Dassai 23 Junmai Daiginjo. .... Spectacular one!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites