The Joy of Sake Returns to NYC

The Joy of Sake

Thursday, April 30 from 6:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m.

Metropolitan Pavilion – 125 W. 18th Street (between 6th and 7th Avenues)

Admission: $140

The Joy of Sake, the world’s largest sake tasting outside Japan, returns to New York City on April 30 with 492 competition-level sakes available to taste alongside sake-inspired appetizers from top restaurants.

Celebrating the ancient art of sake-brewing, The Joy of Sake is a walkaround tasting where attendees are able to taste the full spectrum of sake styles in the premium daiginjo, ginjo, and junmai categories from every sake-brewing region in Japan, including 293 sakes that are not available in the U.S. Sakes are grouped by style so attendees can explore each in depth, including recipients of silver and gold awards from the U.S. National Sake Appraisal, a rigorous blind tasting conducted by ten judges from the U.S. and Japan that takes place prior to the public event. This is an opportunity to sample bottles of the actual competition entries in excellent condition, both Japanese and U.S.-made sakes from local breweries such as Brooklyn Kura and Dassai Blue in Hudson Valley.

In the belief that sake tastes best in good company with great food, fourteen of New York’s top restaurants are preparing original sake appetizers for the event. Restaurants include BondST, Sakagura, Insa, Sake No Hana, Mishik, Towa, Yopparai, Sen Sakana, Rei, Juban, and Rule of Thirds among others serving dishes such as Deviled Egg with Toro Tartar, Broccoli with Tofu Cream & Caviar, Hamachi Temaki, King Salmon Crudo, Bluefin Tuna & Scallions, Kakuni Japanese braised pork belly, and sake-infused Matcha and Hojicha Tiramisu.

The ticket price includes food and unlimited sake tastings. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit The Joy of Sake’s website.

Photos by KK Chote for MST Creative PR and Michael Tulipan

Participating Restaurants

• BondSt

• Cha-An Teahouse

• Insa

• Juban

• Mishik

• Rei

• Rule of Thirds

• Sakagura

• Sake no Hana

• Sen Sag Harbor

• Sen Sakana

• SOZO Sip Bar + Omakase

• Towa

• Yopparai

About The Joy of Sake

The Joy of Sake launched in Honolulu in 2001 in conjunction with the U.S. National Sake Appraisal, a professional-level blind tasting and judging held under the auspices of Japan’s National Research Institute of Brewing. The 2024 Appraisal brought together seven expert sake judges from Japan and four from the U.S. in Honolulu for three days. The judges blind-tasted and rated each entry, with gold and silver awards going to those with the highest marks. The Joy of Sake is the public sampling and enjoyment of these sakes.

A non-profit organization dedicated to fostering appreciation for the ancient craft of sake making, its annual event is now the largest sake tasting outside Japan. More than half are ultra-premium daiginjo sakes, made from the innermost core of the rice grain. Every year, The Joy of Sake stages events in major cities, presenting hundreds of sakes, many not otherwise available outside Japan, along with sake-themed appetizers from top local restaurants in a lively festival setting.

---

Enjoy JapanCulture•NYC? This site is supported by our community, and a $5/month membership helps offset the costs of keeping it running so we can continue spotlighting the people and events that make our community shine. Please click here to join.

Kanpai in NYC: 6 Ways to Toast World Sake Day

From Pairings to Parties, Here’s Where to Sip Sake This October

October marks the beginning of the sake brewing season in Japan, arriving just after the September rice harvest and leading into winter, the ideal time for fermentation. In 1978, the Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association officially designated October first as Nihonshu no Hi, or World Sake Day.

Here are six fantastic events in New York where sake lovers can raise a glass and say “Kanpai!” to the rich traditions of Japanese sake.

How will you celebrate World Sake Day?

SAKE DAY 2025 at Bin Bin Sake

29 Norman Avenue, Greenpoint, Brooklyn

Wednesday, October 1, 2025 from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.

Admission: $10 - $15

Greenpoint-based Bin Bin Sake, a liquor store specializing in sake and natural wine, will host its second World Sake Day celebration.

Highlights

• Tickets include admission, unlimited tastes of sake, a small ochoko (ceramic sake tasting cup), and a special discount at the bin bin shop for take-home bottles

• Each sake being poured has been selected by the Bin Bin team in collaboration with its distributors, showcasing the team’s favorite products

• Vendor market featuring incredible local art and Japanese crafts, as well as a food vendor and DJ

Go to Bin Bin’s Eventbrite page to purchase tickets.

Sake Revolution Podcast

Wednesday, October 1, 2025 from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.-ish
6:00 p.m. – Taproom Opens
7:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. – LIVE Sake Revolution recording
9:00 p.m.-ish – Taproom closes

Brooklyn Kura – 34 34th Street, Industry City in Sunset Park, Brooklyn

Admission: $15

Be part of a LIVE studio audience recording of America's first sake podcast, Sake Revolution! Hosts John Puma and Timothy Sullivan will be live and in person at the Brooklyn Kura taproom and invite you to join in the studio audience.

Highlights

• Interview and sake tasting with Byron Stithem, owner and master brewer of Proper Sake in Nashville, Tennessee. Guests will taste two kinds of Stithem's sake and explore his philosophy and point of view on the making of his unique and delicious brand.

• Audience members will be able to submit questions to be answered live during the broadcast

Purchase tickets at Brooklyn Kura’s website. Admission includes admission for one, plus two tasting pours of sake. Snacks and additional sake will be available for purchase.

World Sake Day NYC

Friday, October 3, 2025 from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.

The W Loft Rooftop – 240 Kent Avenue, Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Admission: $65

The mission of World Sake Day NYC is to elevate awareness and appreciation of the rich history, dedicated people, and vibrant culture behind Japanese craft sake. This annual event brings guests face-to-face with the artisans and experts of the sake world, offering a unique opportunity to taste, learn, and connect directly with the makers of this traditional beverage.

Highlights

• Premium sakes from more than 30 Japan and US breweries

• Admission includes 15 tasting tickets, souvenir sake glass, and tote bag

• Complimentary Bluefin Sampling Curated Japanese food vendors ($10–$20 per dish)

• Meet Michelin Starred Sommelier Steve Kim of Restaurant l'abeille

• Original cocktail designed by award-winning bartender Takuma Watanabe of Martiny's

• Exclusive catering of Japanese appetizers and snacks by Tabetomo

• Installation art by Ikuma design

• Portraits pop-up by Japanese artists Hiroshi Masuda and Remi Yamamoto

• Asian artisanal vendor market with crafts, ceramics, candles and more

To see the complete list of participating brewers and to purchase tickets, please visit World Sake Day NYC’s website.

Kato Sake Works Sake Day Party

Saturday, October 4 at 2:00 p.m.

Kato Sake Works – 379 Troutman Street, Bushwick, Brooklyn

Admission: Free (sake for sale)

Kato Sake Works, a small but mighty craft sake brewery in Bushwick, will celebrate World Sake Day with music, food, art, and a brand new sake. The event will serve as KSW’s official launch NY Jizake (NY Local Sake), a Junmai sake made with Akitakomachi rice grown by Great Joy Family Farm in Pine Bush, New York.

For more information, please visit @katosakeworks on Instagram or their website.

Sake Day Brooklyn 2025

Sunday, October 5, 2025 from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.

Brooklyn Kura – 34 34th Street, Industry City in Sunset Park, Brooklyn

Admission: $50

Since one Sake Day celebration isn’t enough, Brooklyn Kura is hosting a Community Sake Day at their taproom in Industry City.

Highlights

• Premium Sake Tasting all night

• Interactive Brewery Tour

• Shizuku Drip: Taste freshly dripped sake

• DJ playing all night

• Raffles and giveaways for sake classes and swag

• Food pop ups in the courtyard

There will be two rounds of tastings, each featuring dozens of brands. Sake distributors will also be on hand to pour sake from all over Japan.

Premium Sake Tasting Round 1 – 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.

• Dassai

• Heavensake

• Kato Sake Works

• Komé Collective

• Mutual Trading

• Proper Sake

• Sake Discoveries

• Skurnik Wines & Spirits

• World Sake Imports

Premium Sake Tasting Round 2 – 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.

• Brooklyn Kura

• Hakkaisan

• Joto Sake

• Kikusui

• Niigata Sake Selections

• Origami Sake

• Wismettac

To purchase tickets, please visit Brooklyn Kura’s website.

SAKECON

Friday, October 10, 2025 from 6:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m.

The Mezzanine – 55 Broadway, New York

Admission: $85-$120

Round out the Sake Day (week+) at SAKECON, presented by Upstairs NYC, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting friendly relations between New York and other countries through cultural exchanges.

Highlights

• Theme: All White – Dress in white (not required) as a nod to “shinpaku,” the snow-white center of sake rice

• Ultimate Premium Sake Selections: More than 40 breweries and 65 sake

• Free sample of Dassai Blue Sake Mille Crêpes by Lady M (while supplies last)

• Mouthwatering Japanese food and special cocktails by NR (Food is available for purchase)

• Japanese marketplace

• Original sake glass that is yours to keep

• Giveaway: Original Izak Zenou tote bag

• Live Entertainment: DJ and LED Electric Violin performance by global artist Sarina The Violin Diva

• Part of the proceeds will be donated to sake breweries in Ishikawa Prefecture, impacted by the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake

For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit Upstairs NYC’s website.

---

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!