2023 Sake Tasting
Attendees representing the Oakland Fukuoka Sister City
Association (OFSCA), the University of California Berkeley Nikkei Student
Union, the Japanese Exchange & Teaching (JET) program, the Buddhist Church
of Oakland (BCO), and the Asian Pacific Children’s Convention alumni Bridge
Club Oakland experienced sake tasting in Oakland on May 20, 2023.
Our first sake was Taka Noble Arrow Nama Sake from Yamaguchi-ken
in southeast Japan. This sake was described as tasting like Fujiya Peko Chan
milk candy. We enjoyed its delicious flavor. Our second sake was Tamano Hikari
94 from Iwata-ken in the Tohoku region. The 94 is pronounced ku-shi, which also
means skewer and reminded us that it’s perfect to pair with yakitori. Our third
sake was Shirakawago Junmai Ginjo Sasanigori from Gifu, home of the Shirakawago
UNESCO site. Since this was a nigori with kasu (sake lees, the byproduct of
sake), the nigori was gently rotated to evenly distribute the kasu before we
experienced this refreshing and fruity taste. Our fourth sake was from Kyoto’s
Tamano Hikari Brewery that was founded in 1673. Our attendees’ discerning
palates immediately detected mushroom with Tokusen Tamano Hikari Junmai Ginjo.
Our fifth and final sake was Mastu No Tsukasa Ryuou Blue Junmai Daiginjo from
Shiga-ken. Based on its name, we knew that it was nihonshu that had been
crafted from sake rice polished down to 50%.