Blog

Interview with President Toshimitsu Saika of Kokonoe Saika
May 15, 2025
President Toshimitsu Saika of Kokonoe Saika All members of Sake Gumi this month are getting Kokonoe...
NamaFest 2025
May 1, 2025
NamaFest 2025 was a bona-fide festival! It was twice the size of last year's event,...
Arkansas Rice (May 2025)
April 22, 2025
Arkansas rice being harvested. Photo courtesy  of Dassai USA. Ever since 2010, when I was...
Arkansas Rice Series: Interview w. Justin Potts of Origami Sake Brewery
April 20, 2025
Before meeting Justin Potts, Director of Brewing Relations at Origami Sake Brewery, I heard him...
Arkansas Rice Series: Interview w. Fumiya Miura of Dassai Blue Sake Brewery
April 20, 2025
While Dassai has been a household name in Japan for decades, it's just the beginning...
Female Frontrunner Pt 2: Miho Imada (April 2025)
March 28, 2025
L-R: Me, Miho Imada and Kayoko at the shop in summer of 2024 Miho Imada has...
We're Hiring a Shopkeeper Assistant!
March 20, 2025
Umami Mart seeks a friendly and punctual team member to personalized customer service. This will be...
Komasa Jyozo (Kagoshima)
March 1, 2025
During our last Japan visit, I made a quick detour down to Kagoshima to visit...
Shochu Gumi n.022: Spotlight on Komasa Jyozo (March 2025)
March 1, 2025
I’m back from two days in Kagoshima and supremely pumped for shochu –particularly of the...
Female Frontrunners Pt. 1 (March 2025)
February 20, 2025
This month’s selections L-R: Narutotai LED Junmai Ginjo + Hanabusa Yamahai Junmai It delights me that...
Spotlight on Fifth Taste: Interview with Jesse Pugach, Founder of Fifth Taste
January 17, 2025
Find Fifth Taste sakes on our shelves all year long. From funky and complex kimotos...
Brand Spankin New Bottles (February 2025)
January 17, 2025
This month’s bottles from the Fifth Taste portfolio: Chochin 5055 Muroka Nama Genshu Junmai Ginjo...