Dassai to Host Wagashi x Art Event
Dassai Blue Sake Brewery hosts a collaboration workshop that blends contemporary art with Japanese wagashi, the delicate tradition of handcrafted sweets.
Wagashi Workshop and Modern Art Demonstration
Saturday, January 24, 2026 from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m.
Dassai Blue Sake Brewery – 5 Saint Andrews Road, Hyde Park, NY 12538
Admission: $90
Dassai Blue Sake Brewery hosts a collaboration workshop that blends contemporary art with Japanese wagashi, the delicate tradition of handcrafted sweets. Discover how artist Moyuru Shiroma’s signature designs come alive through wagashi expert Sara Suzuki’s Chokotto Wagashi.
Event Structure
Guided instruction from Sara Suzuki
All of the materials to make three wagashi
A glass of Dassai Blue Nigori or Nigori Sparkling
Suzuki will guide participants in creating three different designs of nerikiri wagashi inspired by Shiroma’s signature designs: flowers, butterflies, and fish. At the end of the event, each participant will receive a box designed by Shiroma, allowing participants to take home their favorite wagashi in this special keepsake. In addition, while Suzuki leads the class, Shiroma will create a live painting.
To purchase tickets, please visit Tock.
Sara Suzuki and Moyuru Shiroma
What is Wagashi?
Wagashi is a traditional Japanese confection made from simple plant-based ingredients such as rice flour, sweet bean paste, and sugar. Their intricate designs reflect nature and seasonality, and they are typically paired with matcha at tea ceremonies.
Wagashi expert Sara Suzuki
About Sara Pekofsky Suzuki
While studying in Japan during college, Sara Pekofsky Suzuki discovered the quiet beauty and variety of wagashi. Inspired by those experiences, she continues to deepen her craft through ongoing courses and training. Through PEKOS CHOKOTTO WAGASHI, she creates seasonal, handcrafted sweets made entirely from scratch, using only all-natural ingredients and colors, celebrating care, tradition, and the fleeting nature of each moment. To learn more, follow Suzuki on Instagram.
Artist Moyuru Shiroma
About Moyuru Shiroma
Moyuru “Moy” Shiroma grew up on the small tropical island of Okinawa, Japan. This is where he developed his love of using bright colors to express mood. More recently, he has illustrated the duality of human emotions by combining the vivid colors of acrylic paints and sprays with the darker colors of stencil. He earned a bachelor's degree from Tohoku University of Art and Design, followed by attending college in Rockland County, New York. Both schools presented him with awards in the field of visual arts. He continues to hold exhibitions and collaborate with companies to share his vision. For more information, please visit Moy’s website.
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DASSAI Moon Talk at Japan Society
Peek behind the curtain of the DASSAI MOON Project at this special Japan Society event. Photo ©DASSAI
Crafting DASSAI Sake on the Moon: Conversation & Sake Tasting
Friday, January 23, 2026 at 7:00 p.m.
Japan Society – 333 E. 47th Street (between 1st and 2nd Avenues)
Admission: $45 | $35 Japan Society Members
Peek behind the curtain of the DASSAI MOON Project at this special Japan Society event.
Japan Society looks to the future with sake brewery DASSAI for a conversation on the DASSAI MOON Project, an initiative aimed at constructing the first-ever sake brewery on the moon. The project’s focus is to produce sake on the moon by 2050, and to achieve the historic feat, DASSAI recently carried out the world’s first sake fermentation in orbit inside the Japanese Experiment Module “Kibou” (Hope) aboard the International Space Station. This experiment was conducted in simulated lunar gravity (1/6 Earth’s gravity) using an artificial gravity generator installed in Kibou. The experiment investigated how fermentation behaves in lunar gravity and laid the foundation for brewing sake beyond Earth, bringing traditional Japanese craftsmanship into the era of space exploration. The moromi (fermentation mash) produced inside Kibou will be brought back to Earth and pressed to make sake bottled under the name DASSAI MOON, and DASSAI will donate all proceeds from its sale to the future development of Japanese space exploration. This project is a first test in anticipation of human lunar settlement and the dream of making sake in lunar colonies!
DASSAI Chairman Hiroshi Sakurai and DASSAI MOON Project Manager Soya Uetsuki will be in conversation about their collaboration with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) to conduct brewing experiments in orbit. They will discuss the technology behind the project and how DASSAI transformed this idea into reality to achieve a historic milestone for humanity. This talk will be followed by a reception and sake tasting.
To purchase tickets, please visit Japan Society’s website.
©DASSAI
About the Reception
Attendees are invited to join in a sake tasting featuring sake from DASSAI BLUE. All are freshly brewed in Hyde Park, New York, with Yamada Nishiki rice from Japan and Arkansas and water from New York’s Hudson Valley.
Dassai Blue Type 23 – Tasting Notes: Complex aromatics of anise, pear and marshmallow develop into bright lemon chiffon, honeysuckle and stone fruit with a touch of minerality.
Dassai Blue Type 35 – Tasting Notes: White peaches and ripe papayas with a soft, sweet fragrance. The taste is characterized by a subtle sweetness and refreshing acidity.
Dassai Blue Type 50 – Tasting Notes: Licorice and cantaloupe give way to pineapple candy, lemon curd and vanilla with a hint of brine on the finish.
Dassai Blue Nigori Sparkling 50 – Tasting Notes: A fruity aroma reminiscent of green apples and Japanese wagashi treats. Some sweetness, moderate fizziness and a refreshing crisp finish.
All attendees must be 21 or older.
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Samurai Sword Soul’s 20th Anniversary
New York–based samurai theater company Samurai Sword Soul is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a theater play, Don't Cry, My Friend.
Don't Cry, My Friend – Samurai Sword Soul 20th Anniversary Theater Play
Wednesday, December 3 through Sunday, December 7
Gibney 280 Broadway – 53A Chambers Street
Admission: $106.07 VIP Tickets | $43.04 General Tickets
New York–based samurai theater company Samurai Sword Soul is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a theater play, Don't Cry, My Friend. Founded in 2003 by FX SHOGUN actor Yoshi Amao, Samurai Sword Soul has been entertaining audiences in New York and beyond with an engaging mix of comedy routines, humanistic-theme drama, and thrilling sword fights.
About Don't Cry, My Friend
The show is an original story inspired by two beloved Japanese folktales: “Urashima Taro” and “The Red Oni Who Cried” (“Naita Aka Oni”). This samurai fantasy is brought to life with exhilarating sword fights, laugh-out-loud comedy, and moving drama. At its heart, the play explores timeless questions: What is justice and evil? What does true friendship mean? And how do we find our own path in life? Blending the beauty of samurai tradition with a fresh theatrical edge, this unforgettable journey celebrates courage, compassion, and the human spirit.
It’s a must-see show for everyone! Families and children ages 4 and up are welcome. To purchase tickets, please visit ticketstripe.com.
An open bar is included with your ticket
Show sponsors include
Izakaya Juraku
Sato Shiki (Whisky)
Dassai (Sake)
Kenbishi (Sake)
Sapporo (Beer)
Snacks and soft drinks are also available.
VIP Tickets
The best seats are reserved for those who purchase VIP tickets, while general seating is on a first come, first served basis. A VIP ticket includes a program signed by the entire cast, along with a complimentary gift from Samurai Sword Soul.
Remaining Performances
Thursday, December 4 at 7:00 p.m.
Friday, December 5 at 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 6 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 7 at 2:00 p.m.
Run time: Approximately 70 minutes
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Dassai Sake Series Continues at Japan Society
Dassai Sake Series at Japan Society: Conversation with Dassai Chairman Hiroshi Sakurai and Keiko Ono Aoki, entrepreneur and CEO of Benihana of Tokyo
Dassai Sake Series: Benihana and Beyond
Thursday, July 24 at 7:00 p.m. (Please arrive by 6:45 p.m.)
Japan Society – 333 E. 47th Street (between 1st and 2nd Avenues)
Admission: $45 | $35 Japan Society members
Join Dassai Chairman Hiroshi Sakurai and Keiko Ono Aoki, entrepreneur and CEO of Benihana of Tokyo, for a talk about the past, present, and future of both organizations. Both leaders will engage in a dialogue around the themes of “Challenge” and “Innovation,” discussing how they blend yesterday and tomorrow with the goal of rising to the modern world.
How are we defined by our history, and what is our obligation to it? What are the realities of the U.S.-Japan world today and new dangers and opportunities within it? Is there a future without innovation? How can one create change within a historic organization? And what are the needs to create real revolution? Japan Society invites you to spend the evening with Hiroshi Sakurai and Keiko Ono Aoki to hear their answers.
To purchase tickets, please visit Japan Society’s website.
About the Dassai Sake Series
The Dassai Sake Series is an ongoing lecture series pairing thought and business leaders from across the U.S.-Japan world together onstage with festive sake celebrations. The Dassai brand is built around the goal of bringing revolution to the sake industry, and the Dassai Sake Series is similarly focused on engaging conversations with U.S.-Japan leaders who have created their own revolutions—each concluding with celebratory networking receptions and kampai toasts to their success.
Support JapanCulture•NYC by becoming a member! For $5 a month, you’ll help maintain the high quality of our site while we continue to showcase and promote the activities of our vibrant community. Please click here to begin your membership today!