Meet the Brewers: Bijofu + Zaku

Entry to the event is $35 which includes tasting 5 sakes, a raffle ticket, and snacks.

Join us for a special Meet the Brewers event leading up to Sake Day, as we welcome two teams making some of our favorite sake all the way from Kochi and Mie prefectures: Bijofu (Hamakawa Shoten) and Zaku (Shimizu Seizaburo Shoten).

Bijofu is brewed by Hamakawa Shoten, a family-run kura that's been in the coastal town of Tano in Kochi. Yoko visited the brewery in 2023 and is so excited to welcome them to Oakland. The name Bijofu ("gentleman") nods to Kochi's own Sakamoto Ryoma and Nakaoka Shintaro, the samurai who helped topple the Tokugawa shogunate — there's a rebellious spirit behind every bottle. Expect refreshing sake with dry finishes, made by a crew of eight, five of whom live on-site to keep brewing seven days a week. This is your chance to try some delicious dry sakes that Kochi Prefecture is known for.

Zaku comes from Shimizu Seizaburo Shoten, founded in 1869 in Suzuka, Mie. Toji Tomohiro Uchiyama, a Suzuka native with a background in biochemistry, brews in small tanks so every batch gets close daily attention instead of being run on autopilot. As the brewery puts it, they "put our whole heart and soul into making sake" so that when it's finished, there's nothing they wish they'd done differently.

We'll be pouring a flight of five sakes across both breweries, so come taste the range side by side and talk shop with the people who actually make it. The brewers will be bringing some swag that we'll be raffling away, plus some local snacks to accompany our night of sips.

What we'll be pouring:

Bijofu Ginjo Schwa Sparkling Sake
Bubbly, low-ABV ginjo with soft rice sweetness and lively effervescence — great on its own over ice.

Bijofu Junrei Tama "Cat Label" Junmai Ginjo
Classically Kochi-style: crisp and dry, with tart acidity and minerality.

Bijofu Dreamweaver Junmai Daiginjo
Bijofu's once-a-year masterpiece — silky texture with tropical fruit and a citrus finish.

Zaku Ho no Tomo Jummai
Clean and food-friendly, with silken texture and citrus notes.

Zaku Kaizan Ittekusui Junmai Daiginjo
Silky and elegant, with pear, lychee, and candied pineapple notes.

Who's pouring:

From Zaku (Shimizu Seizaburo Shoten):
Yuki Shimizu — Director, Head of General Affairs & Corporate Planning,
Wakana Takeuchi — Kurabito (brewery worker)

From Bijofu (Hamakawa Shoten):
Miyuki Hamakawa — Director, and journalist
Takashi Kitaoka — Director, Sales Division Manager

WHAT: Meet the Brewers: Bijofu + Zaku
Taste a flight of five sakes and meet the people behind Hamakawa Shoten and Shimizu Seizaburo Shoten

WHEN: Fri, Sept 25, 2026, 4-7pm

WHERE: Umami Mart Bar
4027 Broadway, Oakland CA 94611

ADMISSION: Open to the public! First come, first serve. Flights are $35 for five sakes. 21+ only.