We Want to Enjoy Premium Sake More Casually!

The "Sake Brewery and Sake Appreciation Gathering" has grown significantly, thanks to the support of the Ginyukai members, participating breweries, and our customers. We now feature over 35 breweries and accommodate 550 to 600 attendees.

This event, which has become a beloved "autumn tradition," began with a surprisingly simple idea. The individuals in the photo, wearing distinctive red happi coats, are long-time customers and members of the "Ginyukai," the group that organizes this gathering.

Their desire was straightforward: "We want to enjoy premium sake, the kind typically found in large 18-liter 'to' barrels, more casually."
The idea was: "If enough of us get together, we can make it happen!"

They would often gather, sharing a bottle of exquisite sake, thinking, "If 10 people chip in 1,000 yen each, we can all enjoy a 10,000-yen bottle!" Eventually, the conversation evolved: "Let's invite the brewers!" and "We should let others experience this too!"

And so, 17 years ago, the "First Sake Brewery and Sake Appreciation Gathering" was held, with about 150 attendees and around 10 breweries. As the event grew larger each year, the Ginyukai members found themselves transitioning from participants to organizers (laughs).

Now, they are seasoned professionals, understanding their roles and assisting with remarkable efficiency. Even so, they hold a post-event debrief each year, identifying areas for improvement and continuously refining the event for the future.

However, as we've continued this tradition, we've also received various opinions: "Isn't it time to stop?" "Isn't it becoming stale?" "Does it still have a purpose?" Indeed, challenges like managing the scale and the aging of our core members persist. Yet, we are determined to carry on!

Because the original concept remains: "We want to drink delicious sake ourselves!"


Kanetake Aoki Shoten
1-7-16 Kano, Taihaku-ku, Sendai-shi, Miyagi
Tel. 022-247-4626
Hours | 9:30 AM - 8:00 PM
Open Daily
http://www.h6.dion.ne.jp/~aokisake/