2024 - Annual Celebration of The Joy of Sake (578 Different Labels Throughout Japan & US with Appetizers..)NEW

The Joy of Sake celebrates Hawaiʻi’s 150-year love affair with sake, starting with the early days of Japanese immigration and continuing to the present day. This year marks the 21st anniversary of what’s become the biggest annual sake celebration in the US, featuring 578 different sakes in peak condition together with traditional and contemporary sake appetizers from top Hawaiʻi chefs. The admission fee includes appetizers from participating restaurants and unlimited samplings of sake.

The Joy of Sake is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization whose mission is to promote and celebrate the art and culture of sake through actual tasting events.

Date
Feb 23, 2024

Time
6:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Location
Hawaiʻi Convention Center, 1801 Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815

Background
Joy of Sake tasting events have been held annually since 2001. They provide an opportunity for the public to taste entries submitted to the U.S. National Sake Appraisal, a blind tasting with judges from Japan and the U.S. conducted every year in Honolulu.

The Event
The sakes presented for tasting are shipped directly from the breweries in Japan via refrigerated containers and arrive in peak condition. Bottles are set out on tasting tables, and guests use pipettes to transfer about ten milliliters to their personal tasting cups. Because the servings are small, even light drinkers are able to sample a variety of entries during the evening and gain an appreciation of the diversity of brewing styles and flavor profiles. This once-a-year opportunity to experience the great variety of sakes being made today provides an entrée into the broader panorama of Japan’s culture and arts.

Cuisine
Cuisine plays a prominent role in sake culture. At The Joy of Sake, between 15 and 20 restaurants serve delicious sake appetizers from stations adjacent to the tasting tables. This combination of fine sake and creative cuisine makes The Joy of Sake a uniquely enjoyable event.

Fund-raising
The Joy of Sake contributes revenues from its events to charities and museum programs. It has raised funds for the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii and the Honolulu Academy of Arts. In 2011, The Joy of Sake donated funds to provide financial relief for sake brewery workers affected by the East Japan Great Earthquake.