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NamaFest 2025

Yoko Kumano on

NamaFest 2025 was a bona-fide festival! It was twice the size of last year's event, filled with sake lovers from Oakland and beyond to celebrate spring with fresh-pressed, unpasteurized sakes. Ranging from vibrant and lively to earthy and tart, thirteen vendors representing over 35 sakes and one beer populated our parking lot to show attendees a great time.

Set up started at 11am when vendors started arriving. Our rad staff and team of volunteers were there to help people set up tents, chairs, and sandbags. The weather was overcast, but at least it wasn't raining (like last year).

Radical team-

Sakeman Red representing two of his namas-

Folks from Japan Prestige Sake and Hara Shuzo-

Kayoko, me and DJ Jody-

Namas ready to show off-

Niigata Sake represent!

Guests started showing up promptly at 1pm-

Namazake Paul's sake-

Curious sake enthusiasts engage with vendors-

Dressed to impress!

Taking photos of bottles they enjoyed-

Casa de Kei's menu including Den Sake Kasu Chicken Nachos, Ankimo kasuzuke, and Namazake Braised Chipolata Pork Sausage. Wowza!

Team Casa de Kei nailed it!Kome Collective sharing their highly coveted namas-

Oakland's own Den Sake Brewery-

Sante Adairius served up their special Barrel-Aged Saison with Yuzu + Honey-NamaFest is not complete without a shiba sighting-Picture perfect poses-Fifth Taste and Sequoia Sake got the Best Booth Buddy Award-A dance party ensued as we were wrapping up-Thank you to Patrick (left) who took all the photos!A HUGE thank you to all of the vendors and festival-goers who SHOWED UP for this event! This is the East Bay's biggest sake event and we are so excited to see it grow every year. You bet we'll be back next year and hope to see y'all again!