SakeFest 2010 - New & Old Faces Keep SakeFest Alive and Thriving

A large wooden cask, with kanji characters written in heavy black ink brush strokes, sat alone in the middle of the stage — patiently awaiting the beginning of the festivities.

"On the count of three," said the announcer, "these men will break the top of the cask, symbolizing happiness and good luck. Ready? Ichi ... ni ... san!"

And they were off, the SakeFest had officially begun! As the Taiko drummers came out and proceeded with their annual opening ceremonies presentation that celebrates all that is Sake!

The excitement in the air was palpable as taiko drums reverberated and shook the room within minutes of the event starting. Attendees gathered around the stage to watch the lively drummers, who also played conch shells and shouted words in Japanese.

Attendees certainly needed the luck in trying to decide where to start. Japanese beer booths — Coedo, Ecigo and Orion — sat at the entrance. Sake and shochu, a distilled spirit, had sampling booths in the middle. Local Sacramento sushi restaurants — Kru, Nishiki, Akebono, and Miyagi — encircled the outskirts, offering up delicious appetizer portions of soba noodles and aeomono, vegetables with a dressing or sauce, or freshly prepared sushi such as salmon, katsuo and blue nose.

There was also blind sake tasting, a silent auction, and a benefit drawing. Lucky raffle winners could win anything from restaurant gift certificates, four weeks of free martial arts lessons at Kovar, to a grand prize.

Walking shoulder to shoulder with commemorative sake glasses in hand, attendees sampled the exquisite tastes of plum wine, nigori (unpasteurized sake), taru (sake aged in cedar casks) and plum, fuji apple, or raspberry-flavored sake.



My personal favorite booth is BORN, this booth holds many sake's inlcuding "Wing of Japan," and "Dreams Come True."

Born's sake "Wing of Japan" has a reputation for quality, clean taste, and a pleasant aroma, Atsuhide Kato said, CEO of Born Brewery.

Wing of Japan is also the only sake to be served on Japan Airlines'one-year old Boeing 777-300ER and for first class executives aboard the Tokyo-New York route, according to a recent Japan Times article.

Wing of Japan also found a place with some top United States officials — from President Clinton to President Obama.

New to this years festivities was a Kimono competition, graded on poise and authenticity of costume. In the end audience participation played a part in the scores, and the winner was announced.