Three Cheers for Sake Day

I giggled, I snickered and even cringed just a little at first, but yesterday's Sake Walk was a big success and a lot of fun. I'd been running late and, when I arrived at Mizutanibashi Park, I was surprised to find a band of people, right fists raised, carrying bright yellow and red banners emblazoned with the words, "October 1st is Nihonshu no Hi." Everyone wore matching yellow singlets bearing the same phrase. I was confused. The scene was reminiscent of a political -- namely, communist -- demonstration, and I was still not sure if I'd come to the right place when the police escorts started to move the parade along.

"Everyone, form four lines!"

We were officially on our way. A few moments later, someone ran up to me and handed me a bib, which I accidentally put on backwards.

"Your sign is inside-out," the man beside me pointed out.

"Ah, yes," I stammered, "it is. Thank you."

And then the chanting began.



"Jyugatsu tsuitachi ha, nihonshu no hi desu!"

October 1st is Sake Day!

"Nihonshu de, kampai shimashou!"

Let's celebrate with sake!

"Ruuru wo mamotte, nihonshu wo tanoshimimashou!"

Only the Japanese could come up with a slogan as stirring as this: Let's enjoy sake by drinking responsibly and observing the rules! That is so classic.

But seriously, there was a very good turnout and a lot of enthusiasm. The after party and tasting organized by Wajowaraku Sake Academy at the Shinmaru Building was terrific. After greetings from legendary sake book author Jiro Shinoda, all the participants toasted with brews from Kamoshibito Kuheiji, Hitakami, and Nambu Bijin. The tasting was small and featured top producers like Jyuyondai, Gorin and Denshu. There were also snacks of horse sashimi and namerou (a spicy dish of horse meat minced with miso and herbs), addictively delicious cucumber pickles and other fresh veggies. All for free.

From now until October 12th, the restaurants on the seventh floor of the Shinmaru Building will doing a special sake "happy hour" promotion in the evenings from 6:00. It's a terrific deal - a flight of three sakes for Y500.

If you want to get more serious about tasting, this is the month to do it. There are events going on nearly every day. Here are a couple to whet your palate.

Pop into the National Azabu Supermarket this weekend for a little free tasting at the Nara and Jizake Fair.

For only Y500, you can taste a ton of sake at the Saitama Sake Tasting on the 6th. Just watch out for the drunken older men.

One of my favorites every year is the Shimane Sake Tasting on the 12th.

On the 13th, there's a small fall tasting from 12:00-4:00 at the KKR Hotel in Takebashi (11F). Not really sure what it's about, but at Y500, I can risk checking it out.

There are many, many more. Head on over to Tokyofoodcast for listings and don't forget - ruuru wo mamotte, nihonshu wo tanoshimimashou!