Hakkaisan was invited to the sommelier summit held on April 25^th and 26^th at Culinary Institute of America in Napa Valley, CA, USA. Over 100 sommeliers were attended.

This is an annual wine event focuses on one country and its traditional alcohol beverage. This year was Japan and Japanese sake and shochu (spirit). Educational tasting session was held with eight Japanese sake breweries and each brought one kind of sake for tasting. It was a great opportunity to introduce sake world to the wine world, and was interesting to see how wine professionals percept and accept Japanese sake. This opportunity to meet many wine professionals, and see how Japanese sake was taken positively by them left us a great challenge; how can we introduce the wonderful world of sake the way we did here in Napa?

It’s a big challenge, but we are inspired and want to conquer the challenge!

Announcement from Hakkaisan (download PDF)

Ladies and Gentlemen,
I hope this letter finds you well. We have an exciting announcement to make!
Hakkaian Brewery is supporting marine adventurer, Mr. Kojiro Shiraishi, who challenges VENDEE GLOBE 2016. We are inspired by his passion and detennination toward the race and are fully supporting his challenge. VENDEE GLOBE is the one of the toughest yacht race in the world that held once every four years. This solitary yacht race goes around the world without stopping and without refilling of any material. Mr. Shiraishi once completed the race with the record of the youngest racer at the age of 26. He has been challenging in different solitary yacht races after his record braking VENDEE GLOBE, and Hakkaisan continuously stay by his side to support.

On May 29, 2016, he will take off the TRANSAT NEW YORK – VENDEE which is preliminary skirmish of VENDEE GLOBE. We would be extremely appreciated your warm applause on his Journey.

• TRANSAT NEW YORK- VENDEE
Preliminary skirmish of VENDEE GLOBE 2016 – 2017, it is a solitary yacht race across the Atlantic Ocean without stopping or refilling of any material. The race starts from New York, USA and reaches Les Sables-d’Olonne, FRANCE by June 11, 2016, and that is the qualification to the VENDEE GLOBE.
• Take off from North Cove Marina (385 South End Ave #7G, New York, NY 10280)
• Race starts May 29, 2016 at 11 :00 in Eastern Standard Time
• GOAL is Les Sables-d’Olonne, FRANCE
• Time limit is June 11, 2016 in France time
• Distance is about 3100 miles (appx. 5,000km)
• TRANSAT NEWYORK-VENDEE Official Home Page

• VENDEE GLOBE
VENDEE GLOBE is designed by Philippe Jeantot, the champion of BOC Challenge for two consecutive years. First race was held in 1989, and it will be the eighth race this year. Yachts starts from Les Sables-d’Olonne, FRANCE on June 6, 2016 and will take about 80 days (appx. 2,000hours) to race around the world in solidary and come back to the starting harbor in Les Sables-d’Olonne, FRANCE.
Yacht is about 60 feet (appx. 18m) and a lonely race that goes around southern hemisphere which is about 26,000 mile (appx. 48,000km).
Designed course starts Les Sables-d’Olonne, FRANCE, go south in Atlantic Ocean and through the Cape of Good Hope, then come out to Indian Ocean and through south side of Australia/New Zealand, and out to South Pacific Ocean, then through in between the Drake Passage and Cape Hom, and come back up North in Atlantic Ocean to aim the goal of Les Sables-d’Olonne, FRANCE.

Hakkaisan Brewery Co., Ltd

From May 3rd to 7th, Japanese Kabuki play was performed in the David Ccoperfield Theater in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. The special play “SHI SHI O” was created for Las Vegas by Japanese entertainment company, SHO CHIKU.

Hakkaisan sake barrels were used for “Tsumidaru (sake barrels for display)” displayed in front of the theater, also “Kagami Biraki (sake barrel opening) “ at reception and after party of first night. “Kagami Biraki” is done for wishing good luck for rest of the play and showing appreciation of all staff members and sponsors involved.

It was a real honor for us to be a part of this exciting event, also to see many guests enjoyed our sake!

“SHIBUYA” Japanese restaurant in MGM Grand Hotel held a Hakkaisan special dinner. Guests enjoyed course dinner which specially created to pair with Hakkaisan Junmai Ginjo, Tokubetsu Honjozo, and Kijoshu.

Hope this was a great opportunity to show Americans to enjoy Japanese theater art and Japanese sake!1

We are hoping this website to be as interactive as possible. Our new blog will let the world know what is going on with Hakkaisan and Sake communities in the world. Our Japan domestic and international events will be informed here. Please leave us comment, and let us know your Hakkasain and/or sake experience!