Sake and Shochu Gumi
Event Recap

Shochu Happy Hour @ Ramen Shop

As a follow-up to our Sakqueso! event over the summer, we partnered with Ramen Shop yet again for Shochu Happy Hour, a few weeks ago. We had a nice crowd of shochu novices and enthusiasts come out and had a great time talking to folks about shochu, Japan's distilled beverage!...

Factory Visit

Kimura Glass Factory Visit (Tokyo)

We are lucky to go to Japan every year to visit makers, artisans, breweries, and factories to see where our products are made. On our last trip in April, Yoko and I visited one of Kimura Glass Company's factories, right in the middle of Tokyo. Here's what we saw! Kimura Glass...

Sake Gumi News

Aging Gracefully (October 2018)

Sake Gumi is our monthly sake subscription service with 150 members throughout California. Join today! The current sake trend in Japan is everything fresh and fruity. It's all about the nama-namas, namachozo, namazume, and shiboritate. But we are never ones at Umami Mart...

Upcoming Event

Chicago Pop-Up Events

Did you hear about our Pop-Up at Ace Hotel Chicago October 26-30? We are popping up at Ace Hotel Chicago with our greatest hits, including Japanese bar tools, glassware, ceramics and more. We'll also be having a few events during our stay in the Windy...

Spotlight

Introducing the Bricks Tabletop Collection

The Bricks Tabletop Collection combines modern design with time-tested durability to create a distinctive tabletop setting. Made with special Shigaraki red clay, blended exclusively for this series, the copper-toned trim provides an earthy accent against bold glazes. These versatile porcelain pieces are hand-glazed, and inspired by ancient Japanese wa textures and nostalgic Americana...

Upcoming Event

Shochu Happy Hour!

Come one, come all, to our upcoming Shochu Happy Hour! at Ramen Shop in Oakland on Saturday October 13th! Discover the wide range of flavors that shochu (Japan's distilled beverage) has to offer, alongside a special menu of crunchy and savory snacks. Try two...

Umami Mart is Hiring!

Umami Mart seeks a friendly and responsible Temp-to-Hire Holiday Shop Assistant, with the potential to become a long-term staff member after the holidays. Retail experience required. This position will be for at least 3 shifts per week, under the direct supervision of Chris C., the Shop...

Spotlight

New Stuff!

We have a slew of new products from Japan – that's kitchenware, sakes, beers, glassware, and more! Here are a few that have been especially popular. ALUMINUM COOL STRAW Enjoy your next iced tea,...

Spotlight

CONDIMENT ALERT! Crystallized Shoyu

75 grams of liquid soy sauce is condensed into 20 grams of Crystallized Shoyu, making it a potent condiment that can be shaken on grilled meats, pasta, pizza, rice, or toast. This naturally fermented condiments has one-sixth the sodium of its...

Spotlight

Introducing New Fruit Wood Hashi

These all natural hashi (chopsticks) are made with wood from Persimmon, Mandarin, or Peach trees and finished in beeswax for a silky smooth feel in your hands. Unlike hashi sealed with synthetic lacquer, these won't...

Spotlight

Zero Everything: Suntory All-Free

ZERO alcohol, ZERO gluten, and ZERO calories?? Could this be true?!?!?! Suntory All-Free is perfect for designated drivers, pregnant women, and those of us who want the taste of beer but don't want the alcohol, gluten, or calories! Non-alcoholic beer has always been...

Spotlight

NEW! Tofu Spirits Tenugui

Call them creepy, playful, or just plain weird – but you can't deny the drawings on this Tofu Spirits Tenugui Kitchen Towel are quite entertaining. From the bathing tofu man to the one shape-shifting into a tea kettle, each character is...