{"product_id":"meet-the-brewers-bijofu-zaku","title":"Meet the Brewers: Bijofu + Zaku","description":"\u003cp\u003eEntry to the event is $35 which includes tasting 5 sakes, a raffle ticket, and snacks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJoin us for a special \u003cstrong\u003eMeet the Brewers\u003c\/strong\u003e 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).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBijofu is brewed by Hamakawa Shoten, a family-run kura that's been in the coastal town of Tano in Kochi. Yoko \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/umamimart.life\/blogs\/main\/a-visit-to-hamakawa-shoten-1?_pos=1\u0026amp;_psq=hamakawa\u0026amp;_psid=542e1a438\u0026amp;_ss=e\"\u003evisited the brewery in 2023\u003c\/a\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eZaku 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe'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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eWhat we'll be pouring:\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBijofu Ginjo Schwa Sparkling Sake\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBubbly, low-ABV ginjo with soft rice sweetness and lively effervescence — great on its own over ice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eBijofu Junrei Tama \"Cat Label\" Junmai Ginjo\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eClassically Kochi-style: crisp and dry, with tart acidity and minerality.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBijofu Dreamweaver Junmai Daiginjo\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBijofu's once-a-year masterpiece — silky texture with tropical fruit and a citrus finish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eZaku Ho no Tomo Jummai\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eClean and food-friendly, with silken texture and citrus notes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eZaku Kaizan Ittekusui Junmai Daiginjo\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSilky and elegant, with pear, lychee, and candied pineapple notes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eWho's pouring:\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrom Zaku (Shimizu Seizaburo Shoten):\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYuki Shimizu — Director, Head of General Affairs \u0026amp; Corporate Planning,\u003cbr\u003eWakana Takeuchi — Kurabito (brewery worker)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrom Bijofu (Hamakawa Shoten):\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMiyuki Hamakawa — Director, and journalist\u003cbr\u003eTakashi Kitaoka — Director, Sales Division Manager\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWHAT: \u003c\/strong\u003eMeet the Brewers: Bijofu + Zaku\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eTaste a flight of five sakes and meet the people behind Hamakawa Shoten and Shimizu Seizaburo Shoten\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWHEN: \u003c\/strong\u003eFri, Sept 25, 2026, 4-7pm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWHERE:\u003c\/strong\u003e Umami Mart Bar\u003cbr\u003e4027 Broadway, Oakland CA 94611\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eADMISSION:\u003c\/strong\u003e Open to the public! First come, first serve. Flights are $35 for five sakes. 21+ only.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Umami Mart Events","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46504405106767,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0212\/1922\/files\/092326_zaku_bijofu_event_60b8f5ef-e5e6-475e-9343-3799a187ed24.jpg?v=1788380676","url":"https:\/\/umamimart.life\/products\/meet-the-brewers-bijofu-zaku","provider":"Umami Mart","version":"1.0","type":"link"}