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.