Known worldwide as one of the finest representatives of ultra-premium Japanese sake, this exceptional brew was the centerpiece of our inaugural pairing event held in May 2025.
The venue was none other than Mikan Kotohogi, a renowned restaurant with Michelin recognition, representing one of Japan's finest dining establishments.
Today, we're excited to share a detailed report of our sold-out event that concluded to tremendous acclaim.
※This article is adapted for international audiences based on an article published on "SAKETOMO," a specialized sake media platform operated by TV Aichi.
※USD conversion calculated at 1 USD = 150 JPY
Elevating the Industry: An Unprecedented Premium Pairing Challenge
The event featured an unparalleled luxury pairing experience, serving ultra-premium sake including NIIZAWA SAKE BREWERY's masterpiece "REIKYO Absolute 0" at nearly 400,000 yen per bottle, alongside other exceptional premium sakes.
Our company representative, Yuichi Kondo, who has experience as a sommelier, hosts numerous sake pairing events throughout the year. He established Sakura Sake Shop with the mission of "delivering the magnificence of Japanese sake to the world." Kondo reflects on the event: "To truly convey the value of Japanese sake globally, we needed an impactful initiative like this. This day represented the realization of that long-held vision."
The Revolutionary "REIKYO" That Changed Industry Standards
We welcomed nine distinguished guests aged 30-40. Despite the premium participation fee, the event sold out immediately upon announcement, clearly demonstrating the high demand for luxury pairing experiences.
The star of our event, "REIKYO," is the ultimate Junmai Daiginjo crafted using rice polished to an extraordinary 0.85% over 5,297 hours. This unprecedented polishing ratio was not covered under traditional sake tax law classifications and actually prompted changes to sake taxation laws, making it a legendary sake. It's also known for its extreme rarity, with only 333 bottles distributed domestically each year.
Naturally, all other sake selections were carefully curated to perfectly complement and enhance the flavors of each dish.
The "REIKYO Opening Ceremony"
The event commenced at 6:00 PM with guest reception, accompanied by a welcome drink of "8000 DRY SPARKLING," a sparkling Japanese sake.
At 6:30 PM, we began with a video message from President Niizawa of NIIZAWA SAKE BREWERY, the brewery behind REIKYO. Despite his busy schedule, President Niizawa graciously agreed to our request for a customer message video, demonstrating his generous spirit. This gesture delighted our guests and earned my deep respect.
Following this, we conducted the "REIKYO Opening Ceremony," and as all participants raised their glasses in unison for the toast, expressions of wonder filled the venue.
To maximize appreciation of REIKYO's delicate aroma, we used large Burgundy glasses. The moment it touched the palate, an overwhelming roundness and noble umami spread throughout—truly embodying the essence of purity. The blissful aftertaste lingered long, and the sheer perfection left guests speechless. We served both 2023 and 2024 vintages simultaneously, allowing guests to experience the distinctive flavors created through aging at -5°C. As the host, providing such an experience brought me immense joy.
Exquisite Japanese Sake × Exquisite Japanese Cuisine: A Miraculous Pairing
Following the opening toast with REIKYO, we presented the ultimate pairing experience.
While much involves trade secrets, I'd like to share some details about the pairings we offered.
The first dish was fresh clams. The pristine, seasonal clams harmonized exquisitely with REIKYO's transparency.
Next came fresh torigai (Japanese cockle), served promptly. This simple dish highlighting the ingredient's freshness complemented REIKYO's lingering finish. The sequential presentation of these two dishes created an exquisite composition that allowed guests to enjoy the evolving flavors of REIKYO.
We featured Hokkaido snow crab, impressively boiled fresh on-site, paired with the globally popular "ZANKYO (2023)." The delicate aroma of ZANKYO served in Chardonnay glasses enhanced the crab's natural sweetness.
The assorted delicacies paired with "ZAKU KIZUI" created a beautiful harmony between the diverse flavors and saltiness of the delicacies and the complex umami of the sake served in elegant glass cups.
For the main course of Kuroge Wagyu beef with Japanese pepper, we served "USUMIDORI Yamahai Junmai Ginjo," warmed to 65°C in tin chirori and served in guinomi cups.
The higher temperature sake further enhanced the rich flavors of the wagyu fat.
Popular Tasting Game
During the event, we treated guests to a tasting game experience.
We conducted a blind tasting of HAKURAKUSEI sake using the same
Kura-no-Hana rice but with different polishing ratios (55% and 15% polishing), explaining the characteristics of each sake to our guests.
Even for sake enthusiasts, this proved quite challenging, but being able to provide detailed explanations while guests savored the sake reminded me once again of the true pleasure of pairing events.
Continuing to Elevate the Value of Japanese Sake
The three-hour dream-like experience passed in the blink of an eye. We received wonderful feedback from each guest, and I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to serve outstanding sake including REIKYO, and to collaborate with Mikan Kotohogi on this special event commemorating their 10th anniversary. Through this precious experience, we as service providers also felt the infinite possibilities of Japanese sake and cuisine pairings.
At Sakura Sake Shop, our mission is to "create the world's most exciting sake experiences."
If you have any inquiries about sake events or handling premium sake, please don't hesitate to contact us.
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Event Details
- Event Name: "REIKYO × Japanese Cuisine" - Ultimate Pairing Experience by Master Craftsmen
- Date & Time: May 2, 2025, 6:30 PM - 9:40 PM
- Venue: Mikan Kotohogi (Viale Storia 2A-2, 2-1-28 Izumi, Higashi-ku, Nagoya)
- Fee: 180,000 yen (tax included) / $1,200 USD
- Sake Served: 8000 DRY SPARKLING 2023, REIKYO 2023, REIKYO 2024, ZANKYO 2023, HAKUIN MASAMUNE Kimoto Junmai, HAKURAKUSEI Junmai Ginjo, HAKURAKUSEI Hikari, UGO NO TSUKI RAY, ZAKU KIZUI, KAMOKINSHU Jungin Omachi, USUMIDORI Yamahai Junmai Ginjo, KEYAKI
