October Sake Trend Newsletter
OC Japan Fair is happening right now, and today is your last chance to experience it! Join Sake Trend in the exclusive VIP Sake Lounge, where we’re passionately diving deep into the fascinating world of Sake with insights on three unique Sake characters! Don't miss out!
VIP Sake Lounge
$35 including 20 min lecture by Sake Sommelier and Sake Lecturer, along with Japanese paring foods
Iwate Meijo Brewery — Tradition, Passion, and Local Pride
Located in **Iwate Prefecture** in northern Japan’s Tohoku region, Iwate Meijo Brewery sits in a small community that also happens to be the hometown of baseball star **Shohei Ohtani**. With over 160 years of history, this brewery carries deep local roots and craftsmanship passed down through generations.
Current president Junya Oikawa took over from his father who passed away during the COVID pandemic, bringing new energy and vision to the brewery. Under his leadership, Iwate Meijo shifted its focus to brewing sake made entirely with local Iwate ingredients. This new direction led to remarkable recognition — including a **Gold Prize in the Iwate Prefecture Sake Competition in 2018.
Traditionally, the brewery invited two master brewers from the renowned **Nanbu Toji Guild**, known for its refined sake-making techniques. Today, Junya and his young Toji, **Mr. Miura**, continue to honor that heritage while pursuing their dream of creating sake that is “unlike any other — a sake with deep dedication and community connection.”
One of their signature creations is Blue Dragon, crafted to pair beautifully with the local Maesawa Wagyu beef. This sake features rich umami derived from the rare sake rice "Kame-no-O,” a Taisho-era variety that Junya’s father helped revive locally.
Kame-no-O is a hard rice that doesn’t easily dissolve, resulting in a sake with bold flavor and profound depth that develops with aging. Though notoriously difficult to grow — often called a “farmer’s challenge” — it is precisely this rarity and complexity that make it so special. For over 30 years, Iwate Meijo has dedicated itself to brewing with this exceptional rice, producing sake that truly embodies the spirit of Iwate.
What is Nanbu Toji Guild?
The Nanbu Toji Guild (南部杜氏組合, Nanbu Toji Kumiai) is one of Japan’s most famous and historic toji (master brewer) guilds — groups of highly skilled sake brewers who have passed down brewing techniques over generations.
The guild is based in the Nanbu region of Iwate Prefecture (northern Japan, Tohoku area).
Malola - Yamagata Masamune - Wine Technique meets Sake
You may have heard of Yamagata Masamune, a well-established sake brand from Yamagata Prefecture. Located on the Sea of Japan side, Yamagata experiences some of the heaviest snowfall in Japan, creating ideal conditions for sake brewing. The name Masamune — inspired by the legendary swordsmith — reflects the brewery’s philosophy: sake that is sharp, refined, and beautifully balanced, like a finely crafted blade.
However, Malola is quite the opposite. This sake is buttery with high viscosity, and its aroma carries notes of caramel and yogurt. These unique characteristics come from a winemaking technique called malolactic fermentation, making Malola currently the only sake using this method.
For this event, we are serving Malola at room temperature, which we believe best brings out its distinctive qualities.
Malola is crafted with Dewasansan sake rice, a variety typically known for producing sake that is light, crisp, and pure, ideal for modern Ginjo or Junmai Ginjo styles. But in Malola, the result is surprisingly wine-like in taste and texture, offering a completely new and unique sake experience.
We love sparkling sake, and we love Nigori — so what happens when you combine them? We can’t complain! This sake is simply delightful. Fruity notes of apple and pear, fruity aroma, shine through on the nose. On the palate, the sharp bubbles reminiscent of sparkling wine complement the creamy texture of Nigori perfectly — truly a harmonious experience.
The bubbles come from a natural second fermentation, with starter mash added back to create the Nigori. This starter mash is key to achieving the sake’s crisp, clean effervescence.
Regular Sake Tasting Section
$12 - 3 samples of sake from over 40 different products
Sakestory - your go-to sake importer - is thrilled to bring you the incredibly popular Yuzu Liqueur! Don't miss out on this delightful experience!
Ikinokura Distillery is located on Iki Island (off the coast of Fukuoka) surrounded by fields of barley and rice, Iki Wagyu beef cattle and pure volcanic mineral water. Iki Island, known as “The Dream Island,” is the spiritual home to Japan’s 400-year history of barley shochu production.
A refreshing low sugar liqueur with beautifully concentrated flavors. The base barley shochu is infused with the best yuzu fruit found in Japan. Yuzu citrus, lemon and grapefruit flavors dominate both the nose and the palate.
OC Japan Festival : https://www.oc-japanfair.com/
DATE & TIME
10/17 (FRI) 4:00PM-10:00PM
10/18 (SAT) 12:00PM-10:00PM
10/19 (SUN) 11:00AM-7:00PM
OC FAIR & EVENT CENTER
88 Fair Dr, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
NLF's 50th Anniversary Celebration
By Nihonmachi Little Friends
Sake Trend’s mission is to support the local community. We believe sake brings people together. While we are a small, micro business, our mission is big: to foster connection and community through the shared experience of sake.
We are supporting NLF's 50th Anniversary Celebration
By Nihonmachi Little Friends
Please join us
Community Mixer from 5:30 - 6:30 pm | Buffet Dinner and Program at 6:30 pm
St. Mary's Cathedral, St. Francis Hall
Nihonmachi Little Friends (NLF) invites the community to celebrate its 50th Anniversary on Friday, November 21, 2025, at 5:30 pm at St. Mary’s Cathedral, in San Francisco’s historic Japantown.
The evening will be emceed by Jana Katsuyama, KTVU Fox 2 Reporter, and will feature a gourmet tasting experience that includes NLF’s award-winning curry, an array of savory dishes, desserts, and sushi prepared by Chef Nori Sasaki. Guests will also enjoy fine sake curated by Todd Eng and Meg of Sake Trend. Performances by Melody Takata of GenRyu Arts, Francis Wong of Asian Improv Arts, and children from NLF’s program will enliven the celebration and highlight the rich cultural traditions that have been central to NLF’s mission.
Early bird registration is available at $150 per person through November 1st; after this date, tickets are $175.
All proceeds will directly support NLF’s programs and Building Fund.
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More Events....We have several events coming up in November, we will share it in Social Media (mostly Instagram) and November Newsletter!