SAKAE SAKE SQUARE

SAKAE SAKE SQUARE is a summer sake tasting event at Oasis 21 in the Sakae district of Nagoya, where breweries from Aichi and Gifu pour their sake. It is organised by the sake brewers' associations of Aichi and Gifu with the Nagoya radio station ZIP-FM. The name plays on one theory of where the word sake comes from: because drinking it lifts the spirits, it was once called sakae-mizu (栄え水), flourishing water.

Highlights

Entry is free. To taste sake, visitors buy a starter set: drink coins, an original ochoko (sake cup) to keep, and a wristband. Coins are exchanged for sake, snacks and water at the booths, and some sake is served on the rocks or with soda. The cup can be brought back on the other days of the event.

Local food makers sell snacks to go with the sake, and DJs play at a kakuuchi (角打ち), a standing drinking corner. The venue has standing tables but no chairs, and a roof keeps it open in the rain. Under-20s may enter only with a guardian and are not served alcohol.

The 2026 edition

In 2026, 50 breweries took part over the three days, 24 from Aichi and 26 from Gifu, with more than 20 at the venue each day and 150 labels in all. The organisers present Aichi as a region that has brewed sake for more than 1,000 years and ranks seventh in Japan for production, and Gifu as a region whose rivers are fed by snowmelt from the Northern Alps and the Ibuki and Ena mountains.

Aichi breweries (24): Aioi Univio (Aioi), Aoki Shuzo (Yonemune), Kamisugi Shuzo (Kamisugi), Kankyo Shuzo (Shitenno), Kiyosu Sakura Jozo (Kiyosujo Nobunaga Onikoroshi), Kanetora Shuzo (Kanetora / Kohen), Kunpeki Shuzo (Kunpeki), Sugiura Mirin (Aizakura), Sekiya Jozo (Horaisen), Chochin Shuzo (Chochin), Tsurumi Shuzo (Gazan), Toshun Shuzo (Toryu), Naito Jozo (Kisosansen), Nakano Shuzo (Kunizakari), Nagai Shuzojo (Shosei), Harada Shuzo (Ikujii), Fukui Shuzo (Shikaio), Marui (Raku no Yo), Mizutani Shuzo (Senpyo / Senmi), Morita (Nenohi), Morita Kinshachi Shuzo (Kinshachi), Yamazaki (Sonno), Yamada Shuzo (Suisen / Saiai), Yamamori Shuzo (Taka no Yume).

Gifu breweries (26): Adachi Shuzojo (Kinkasan), Iwamura Jozo (Onna Joshu), Otsuka Shuzo (Takesuzume), Gyokusendo Shuzo (Reisen), Kuramoto Yamada (Tamagashiwa), Kosaka Shuzojo (Hyakushun), Komachi Shuzo (Nagaragawa), Takeuchi Shuzo (Itteki Senzan), Chigonoiwa Shuzo (Chigonoiwa), Chiyogiku (Korin), Tenryo Shuzo (Tenryo Hinoya), Nakashima Jozo (Kozaemon), Hazama Shuzo (Enasan), Hanazakari Shuzo (Hanazakari), Hayashi Shuzo (Mino Tengu), Hirata Shuzojo (Shoryu no Mai), Hirano Jozo (Bojo), Funasaka Shuzoten (Yotsuboshi), Heiwa Nishiki Shuzo (Kinsen), Michisakari (Michisakari), Miyozakura Jozo (Miyozakura / Tsushimaya), Miwa Shuzo (Shirakawa-go), Yamauchi Shuzo (Fukamori), Wakaba (Wakaba), Watanabe Shuzojo (Shirayukihime), Watanabe Shuzoten (Horai / W).