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%.