I hope everyone had joyful and relaxing holiday. In Hakkaisan, we started our new year with the open sake barrel ceremony. This is a traditional ceremony to cerebrate the new starts. We see sake in barrel as a clear mirror to show the bright future, and see the lids of barrel split open like in Japanese Kanji ”八 – number 8 -” shape which spreads widely in bottom that means ”prosperity”.

Sake was served to people who are making first visitation of the year to “Meiji Jingu 明治神宮” a shrine in Tokyo with the wood cups. Cerebrating with good sake on the way or after renewing the new year’s resolutions before god is a nice way to starts the new year!

Hakkaisan wishes clear bright future and prosperity to all!!

In 2019, we continue to work hard to brew good quality sake, and bring them to you with love and happiness.

Kanpai!

Tokyo Kabuki Theater is decorated with Hakkaisan sake barrels.

Echigo de Soro – Red Label was just released on December 3, 2018.
Limited Sake, ONLY bottled in December.
What is around is only ones out there this year, so go find and get it!
This unpasteurized Junmai Ginjo is fresh, vibrant, and umami forward.
Perfect for special gathering in this holiday season.

Kanpai!

The time comes this year again. The special time to brew special Hakkaisan sake. Every year we put all of our spirit and soul to create this sake.  This is our foundation, the foundation for everything that we do. This is the sake that we stand. This is the sake experience. This is HAKKAISAN.

Our new beer brewery, Sarukurayama Brewery, is opened and waiting for all of you to visit!

In 20th year mark, we relocated our brewery from Izumi area to Uonuma no Sato. The brewery is located on the top of the hill where you can enjoy fresh brewed beer with panoramic view of Uonuma city.

Inside of the brewery, you can see beer making in action through glass window.

There are beer bar and bakery to serve delicious food items that make you crave even more beer!!

Proudly introducing LIGHT AMASAKE.

It has light sweetness compare to original type. It uses the same production method as original Amasake and as nutritional. Light Amasake can easily drink straight and easy to take it on the go!! 

In this fall season, take this Light Amasake to your outdoor laisure! It give you energy that you need to have fun!

We held a very special Hakkaisan Dinner at CHOP stake house in Tokyo American Club.

Hakkaisan Master Brewer, Mr. Nagumo, spoke the spirits of Hakkaisan and philosophy to anticipated club members.

We served a very special sake for these club member “Tokyo American Club 90th Year” along with second fermentation in bottle Clear Sparkling AWA, Kouwa Gura 45 Junmai Daiginjo, and Snow Aged Junmai Ginjo 3 years with delicious CHOP’s stake.

This food and wine festival is one of the kinds!

Food and Wine magazine hosts Food and Wine Classic in beautiful Aspen downtown, it showcased over 180 of fine food, wine, liquor, and luxury items presented by producers/makers for three days; this year was June 15th to 17th. Over 4000 people came to visit and enjoy all the fine foods and drinks over three day weekend.

Many celebrity chefs came for special lectures, tasting session, and talk show though out the weekend , but there was no program related to Sake, so maybe we can host one tasting and lecture session next year?!?!  The TV show “TOP Chef” chefs served their special dishes, too.

We are able to introduce our sake to first time sake drinker to experienced ones. Very interesting to interact with all kinds of people with different sake knowledge and show how we care for our products.

The Food and Wine magazine hosts’ similar festival in few cities throughout the United States, but Aspen one is its flagship. The ticket price was around $1500!! I personally though it is very expensive, but it maybe not… because I never saw Aspen airport so crowed with private jet!!

We hope to see you all out there again next year!!

Kanpai!!

TEXSOM International Wine Award

One of the largest and most diverse in the history of the competition. The 2018 TEXSOM IWA garnered over 3200 entries representing 30 countries and 21 U.S. States, with the most diverse selection of wines in the history of the competition. The Journal of Wine Economics recently published a paper in which TEXSOM IWA figured prominently for the competition’s ability to differentiate quality and offer judging consistency year-on-year. Also it is some of the most-recognized and selective in the United States.

We are happy to announce that some of our sake received medals.

GOLD:             Tokubetsu Honjozo

GOLD:             Clear Sparkling AWA

SILVER:            Shiboritate Genshu Echigo de Soro Blue Label

GOLD medal winning Tokubetsu Honjozo and Sparkling AWA will be presented at TEXSOM conference in August. They will be featured at tasting, dinners and special events.

Ultimate Wine Challenge

The most credible and relevant Wine competition in the industry. It offers the result that are reliable and easily understandable in today’s marketplace, creating opportunities for the industry, and establishing the platinum standard that defines what beverage evaluation should be.

We are happy to announce our Clear Sparkling AWA was given 90 points this year which is excellent, and highly recommended

Judges Tasting Notes:

What a treat! Impressively aromatic with telltale notes of tropical fruit, sea breeze, green apple, and coconut meat. Refreshing and mineral-driven with a fine mousse, this sparkling sake is fruity without going overboard, and long.

Los Angeles International Wine Competition

For 79 years, the Los Angeles International Wine Competition has showcased the finest domestic and international vintages through a wine-tasting event that is widely considered to be one of the most prestigious in the United States.

We proudly announce our Silver Medal Sake.

SILVER:            Clear Sparkling AWA

SILVER:            Shiboritate Genshu Echigo de Soro Blue Label

Let’s celebrate Summer with Hakkaisan Clear Sparkling AWA!

Hakkaisan applied second fermentation in bottle method to create all natural, elegant and fine sparkling bubbles. Lightly sweeten and refreshing sparkling sake is perfect for summer party!

Aromas of fresh fruits with elegant sweetness of AWA pairs wonderfully with smoked salmon tartar with touch of anchovy, oil marinated oyster, or light pastry.

AWA means “bubbles” in Japanese, the line of bubbles look striking in the glass, enhancing any celebratory occasion.

Hakkaisan Clear Sparkling AWA will be available in the U.S. this JUNE!!

SPECIFICATION: Alcohol 13%, SMV -5, Acidity 1.4, Amino Acid 0.7, Milling Rate 50%,                  Rice  Yamadanishiki, Gohyakumangoku, Koshiibuki, and Miyamanishiki.

Kanpai

ASPEN Food and Wine Festival is the one of the largest and finest Food and Wine Festival in the U.S. This year, Hakkaisan will be joining the festival to introduce our fine line of Japanese Sake. I hope to see you at beautiful Aspen Mountain!

FOOD & WINE Announces Talent Line-Up and Event Schedule for the
36th annual FOOD & WINE Classic in Aspen, June 15 – 17, 2018
Headliners for the weekend include: Anne Burrell, Alex Guarnaschelli, Tyler
Florence, Stephanie Izard, Gabrielle Hamilton, Jacques and Claudine Pépin,
Marcus Samuelsson, Curtis Stone, and Andrew Zimmern
Weekend will celebrate 30th Anniversary of FOOD & WINE Best New Chefs and
Restaurants of the Year with Special Events