The Sake Association of BC was on-hand to present a series of premium sake products to pair with the Consul General of Japan's Food Pairing Event held in February, 2016. This was the first of a number of events we have planned for the year, many of which will provide ample opportunities to sample sake - both local and import - with all manner of cuisine. Our regards go to Consul General Seiji Okada, whose tenure in Vancouver is coming to an end. Please join us in thanking him for his support of the SABC during his tenure.

The month of January saw the Sake Association of BC join with the Consulate General of Japan in ringing in the New Year. Over the course of a number of afternoons and evenings, Mr. Seiji Okada hosted a number of guests and dignitaries from Vancouver. The SABC presented their diverse product portfolios to the attendees and joined in on the ceremonial barrel-opening that signifies the start of what will hopefully be a prosperous year for all involved. Thank-you to Consul General Okada and his staff for all their hard work and support to the SABC for the years he has been in Vancouver.

The Sake Association of British Columbia would like to thank all those who came down and joined us at any of our seminars, workshops and events this year. It's been a fun and busy time for us. We have thoroughly enjoyed having you learn more about sake and enjoy the ever-increasing choices that we are bringing into our home here in British Columbia. 2016 looks to be an exciting year with some changes ahead. Please join us again as we roll out our carpet for new events and products in the New Year. Cheers!

 Monday, November 30th 2015 saw the Sake Association of British Columbia's members attend the Japanese Emperor's Birthday Reception at the Coast Coal Harbour Hotel in Vancouver. Hosted by the Japanese Consulate of Vancouver and Seiji Okada, the Consul General, the hall was packed with well over 300 guests and dignitaries from the British Columbia business and cultural community. These included MLA's and local dignitaries were present to try the many products which we had to sample, including some new products which have recently been brought into the market. BC Premier, Christy Clark sent her regards as she could not attend this year.

This is the third year that the combined efforts of the wine and sake companies that make up the Sake Association of BC has attended this event. We hope to increase our profile through new tasting events and opportunities in 2016. For those who have followed us through social media and have attended our tastings and seminars, we would like to extend our gracious thanks and we wish you our kindest regards to you and your loved ones in the Christmas season. Thank-you!

The 14th Annual Tonari Gumi Premium Sake Tasting Night was held at the Coast Coal Harbour Hotel on Saturday, October 10th. The Sake Association of BC was on hand to present sake from 13 different agencies and suppliers based in Japan and North America. Jizake Japan Inc., Axis Planning Inc., PureSake 4U Ltd., D Way Beverage Inc., Artisan Sake Maker Inc., Blue Note Wine & Spirits Inc., Select Wine & Spirits Merchants Ltd., That's Life Gourmet, YK3 Sake Producer Inc., CMC Sake Merchants Ltd., Fujiyama Imports, Nabeyoshi Co. Ltd., and Bruce Ashley Wines and Spirits each managed a table and presented their products to an eager audience.

Hundreds of people turned up for what was one of the most successful non-trade tastings for sake held in North America. In addition to the tasting room floor, there was also a VIP seminar and tasting which included products which were not available in the main room, and many products currently not available in Canada.

The annual charity event is held by the Vancouver Japanese Community Volunteers Association, which benefits many of their seniors and elder-care programs as well as programs which benefit the East Vancouver area. In addition, there was a silent auction and many food vendors and restaurants that provided accompaniment for the wonderful sake which people had a chance to taste.

We hope to see you all again in 2016, and thank-you all for attending and making this a very successful event.

Cheers!

The 2015 Nikkei Festival (Nikkei Center, Burnaby, BC) was held on Saturday, September 5th and Sunday, September 6th. The Sake Association of BC conducted three different sake seminars per day, each focussing on a different aspect of sake.

The History of Sake, Sake 101 and Sake Pairing (with food) were the three seminar themes which showcased four individual sake and their unique production methods. The tasting showcased producers in North America as well as Japan.

The turnout this year was fantastic, with many coming for more than one seminar. The festival itself was well attended and quite busy over the two days. The beer garden, held outside, also attracted quite a few people who got the chance to try a flight of sake from different regions while they basked in the great weather. Thank-you all who attended and we hope to see you again at our other events!

On July 9th, 2015, the cities of Burnaby, British Columbia and Kushiro, Japan celebrated their Golden Jubilee as sister cities. Spanning 50 years from 1965-2015, the ceremony included 22 Officials from Kushiro, Japan at a Banquet Dinner in celebration of our 50th Sister City Agreement. The event included an official signing by the mayors to renew the pledge between the two cities and a sake barrel ceremony to mark the occasion. The celebrations started late in the evening, around 9:45PM, at the Riverway Clubhouse in Burnaby, BC. The Sake Association of British Columbia presented the entire line-up of products from our 13 member-strong group to the guests which numbered around 150 people. In addition, the Burnaby City Council members were all in attendance, along with the Consul General of Japan. 

On Wednesday, June 24th, Vancouver and Yokohama cities celebrated 50 years as sister cities at a Golden Jubilee ceremony. Celebrating a connection that has in place from 1965 to 2015, the reception for the Jubilee was held at the Roundhouse Community Center's main auditorium. Mayor Gregor Robertson of Vancouver and Mayor Fumiko Hayashi of Yokohama were both in attendance and spoke on the importance and enduring relationship between their respective cities and peoples.

The delegation's presentations were framed by many cultural and trade presentations including taiko drumming, dance and music. The Sake Association of British Columbia had a sake barrel (daru) for the Mayors and the Consul General of Japan, Seiji Okada to break open in order to toast the ceremony. The SABC also manned a sake table to showcase the breadth of products that span the distance from Japan to British Columbia. All thirteen Sake Association member products were on-hand to sample. This included a couple of special-order and hard-to-find products that are generally not sold at stores or poured during tastings. For more information on our upcoming events and tastings, please visit our Contact Us page and we will add you to our mailing list for future tasting opportunities!

The Japanese Consulate under Consul General Seiji Okada and his staff marked the start of 2015 with a series of events at the Consul's residence in Vancouver. Held on January 9th, 13th, 16th and 20th, these events included performances by musicians of note and presentations from well-known authors both local and from Japan. The Sake Association of BC also presented their products to the guests to sample during the duration of the event. The Consul's residence, a heritage home in Vancouver's South Oak neighborhood, created the right atmosphere for the tasting highlighted by a variety of cultural and artistic performances. The SABC attended the Shinnenkai in groups of two, with Jizake Japan, Artisan Sakemaker, Blue Note Wine and Spirits, Select Wine and Spirit Merchants, D-Way Beverage Inc., PureSake4U, Axis Planning Inc., That's Life Gourmet and YK3 Sake Producers. Our newest member, Bruce Ashley also participated to ring in the new year. The SABC sends it's thanks and appreciation to Consul Okada and his staff at the embassy.