True Sake Team – Please Say Hello To Akemi
We are super excited to share with you the excellent news that our family has grown bigger with the amazing addition of Akemi to our True Sake Team. Please let her say hello to you awesome Newsletter readers here, and pop by the store to say hi in person and look for her new “Staff Picks.”
INTRO
Hi Everyone! My name is Akemi, and I’m originally from Osaka, Japan. I’ve been living in San Francisco for the past 25 years, and I’m so happy to be part of the True Sake team!
My love for sake was partly inspired by my brother-in-law in Japan, a longtime sake enthusiast who loves fishing and finding great sake to pair with his fresh catch.
What I love most about sake is how much fun it is to pair with food. I’m also fascinated by the long history, tradition, and craftsmanship behind each bottle. There’s always something new to discover and learn!
I’m excited to keep exploring the world of sake and sharing what I learn along the way. Looking forward to meeting you at True Sake!
MY PICKS
Kamoizumi Nigori Ginjo Nama “Summer Snow”
Don’t let the cloudy look fool you—this is not your typical sweet nigori! It’s fresh, creamy, and luscious, with lots of melon and juicy fruit, but finishes surprisingly dry. I love the contrast between the rich texture and clean finish. This is a great sake to kick off a dinner party—fun, refreshing, and a perfect way to get everyone’s palate going!
Dewazakura Ichiro Junmai Daiginjo “Abbey Road”
This is such a fun and approachable Junmai Daiginjo! It’s fruity and aromatic, with strawberry, melon, pineapple, and floral notes, but it’s not sweet. I especially love the round, plush texture. This is one I’d bring to a dinner party because it’s so easy to enjoy and share.
Kaze no Mori Junmai Daiginjo Muroka Nama Genshu “Pink Label Wind of the Woods”
Coming from Nara, one of the birthplaces of sake, this is such a fun and modern style of sake. It’s bright, fresh, and slightly spritzy, with citrus and tropical fruit notes and a creamy texture. I love how refreshing it is while still having lots of character. Great for an elevated Taco Tuesday at home, or with anything salty, savory, and full of flavor!
Suehiro Ken Daiginjo “The Sword”
One of my favorite elegant Daiginjos. It’s silky, clean, dry, and beautifully balanced, with pear, melon, and mineral notes. I love how refined it is without being overly fruity. A great bottle for sushi and sashimi, and also a wonderful sake to introduce to wine drinkers.
Kiminoi Yamahai Junmai Ginjo “Emperor’s Well”
I discovered Emperor’s Well at Benu in San Francisco several years ago as part of a beverage pairing. I loved it so much that I ran to True Sake the next day to get a bottle! I’ve loved its savory character ever since—creamy, smooth, ricey, and full of umami, with a touch of nuttiness and a clean finish. I also love that it’s not your quintessential Niigata-style sake. The traditional Yamahai method gives it wonderful depth and makes it especially fun to pair with food.
Toko Junmai Daiginjo Shizuku “Ultraluxe”
This is my special-occasion pick! It’s elegant and luxurious, but still so easy to enjoy, with beautiful notes of pear, lychee, grape, and citrus. I also love the story behind it—the sake is collected drop by drop using the traditional Shizuku method, which makes it feel even more special. This is the bottle I’d open for a celebration or a really nice dinner with friends.
Hakuto Tokubetsu Junmai “Deep Faith”
This is such a fun sake for food pairing! I get lemon pound cake on the nose, followed by savory, earthy notes of walnut, shiitake, and bamboo shoot. I paired it with shio-koji-marinated grilled lingcod and loved how the umami worked together.
Hakuto is made in the Noto Peninsula, where their brewery was badly damaged by the 2024 New Year’s Day earthquake. With incredible support from fellow brewers, they were able to continue brewing—a story that shows the strong sense of community in the sake world.
Great with grilled fish, meat, or anything with a little char!