All Events

Sake Tasting with Joto Sake

Special Events

When
November 15, 2026 | 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Where
Yanai Classroom
Event Audience
All Members, Public
On Sale Dates
Golden Crane | September 30 | $85
Members | October 7 | $85
Public | October 14 | $105
Tickets go on sale at 7am PST on the scheduled date.
Register
sake poured into glass
Sake gets poured into a glass at Portland Japanese Garden's sake tasting event in 2024. Photo by Nina Johnson.

Event Information

Join Portland Japanese Garden to connect with the culture of Japan through the nation’s signature beverage: sake!  This exciting and exclusive afternoon tasting will feature products from Joto Sake, our official sake partner. Founded in 2005, Joto is one of the leading artisanal portfolios of its kind in the U.S. They represent ten multi-generational, family-owned jizake (local) breweries located throughout Japan.

A representative from Joto Sake  will present special sake offerings paired with small bites and will walk guests through the structure, history, and brewing process of a variety of sakes that are deeply connected to Japanese culture. 

Sake is a drink that pairs well with virtually any food. During the event, you will have the opportunity to mix and match different pairings with each sake that is offered, featuring food prepared by Ippai, so you can take what you learned and experiment with your own sake and food pairings at home!

More details, such as the sake that will be presented, are coming soon! 

Sake Tasting List

Yuki No Bosha Junmai Ginjo “Cabin in the Snow” (Saiya Brewery, Akita)
Joto Daiginjo “The One with the Clocks” (Nakao Brewery, Hiroshima)
Joto Nigori “The Blue One” (Nakao Brewery, Hiroshima)
Hou Hou Shu “Blue Clouds” (Marumoto Brewery, Okayama)
Fuku Chitose Yamahai Junmai “Happy Owl” (Tajima Brewery, Fukui)
Izumo Fuji Junmai “Ancient Shrine” (Fuji Brewery, Shimane)

Speaker Profile

Luke Knight

State Manager for Kobrand Wine & Spirits

Luke Knight is a State Manager for Kobrand Wine & Spirits, representing Joto Sake across Oregon, Idaho, and Montana. He holds a WSET Level 3 Award in Sake and the WSET Diploma in Wines, as well as a master’s degree in winemaking from the Euromaster Vinifera program. Drawing on experience in both wine and sake, Knight enjoys making the stories behind each bottle approachable and helping people discover styles they might not otherwise try.

Partner Profile

Jane Hashimawari

Founder of Ippai

Jane Hashimawari is the founder of Ippai, a food pop-up inspired by the seasonally focused cuisine of kaiseki (multi-course Japanese meal) and her mom’s everyday Japanese home cooking. She uses the bountiful produce of the Pacific Northwest to create cozy, vegetable-forward dishes that hope to comfort the spirit and honor the legacy of the domestic chef.

About Joto Sake

a man in a hat stands with a rice harvest
Mr. Yasunobu Tomita, head brewer of Tomita Brewery, with Tamazakae rice harvest. Tomita Brewery is one of the breweries to be featured in this tasting event. Photo courtesy of Joto Sake

Mr. Yasunobu Tomita, head brewer of Tomita Brewery, with Tamazakae rice harvest. Tomita Brewery is one of the breweries to be featured in this tasting event. Photo courtesy of Joto Sake 

Joto Sake, the official sake partner of Portland Japanese Garden, has a mission to serve as a bridge between Japanese artisanal sake and the American market. Japanese for “highest level,” Joto describes the makers of their sake and their aspirations as their importer. They are the exclusive importer for multi-generational, family-owned breweries whom they identify and approach after trying their sake in Japan and reading about their brands in Japanese food and beverage publications. Joto’s jizake breweries are located throughout Japan, producing sake in small batches with locally-raised indigenous rice varieties, offering flavors and styles ideal for a range of cuisines. Offering a unique journey into the heart of the world of sake, Joto’s bottles feature English-language labels with producer names, locations and helpful tasting notes. 

Thank You to Our Event Sponsor