🍶 Shochu Live 2026

Hey everyone — I know this one is outside Sacramento stomping grounds, but shochu events of this caliber are basically unicorns in the U.S., so I had to share it with the group.
Shochu Live 2026 is happening at Umami Mart in Oakland on Saturday, June 20th from 1–4pm, and I'll be there. Highly recommend joining if you can make the trip.
This is a ticketed event ($65 general / $55 for Umami Mart members) and here's what you're getting:
40 shochus from Japan to taste — sweet potato, barley, rice, kokuto black sugar, awamori, and more Two expert seminars including "What is Shochu?" and "All About Maewari Shochu" — limited seating, RSVP required 🇯🇵 Visiting distillers from Japan including Kuroki-Honten (Miyazaki), Yanagita Shuzo, Hamada Shuzo, Higa Shuzo, and Kirishima Shuzo 🍱 Food by Casa de Kei (sold separately) + music by DJ Wiley Coyote
For anyone new to shochu — think of it as Japan's answer to spirits: incredibly diverse, food-friendly, and wildly underappreciated in the States. This is the best possible introduction.
Tickets & full lineup: https://umamimart.com/collections/events/products/shochu-live-2026
This is a 21+ event. I'll be going — drop a comment if you're in and maybe we can coordinate. Kanpai! 🥂