Author Archives: Yoko Kumano


May 23, 2017

Celebrating Women Producers: Noriko Kamei of Sequoia Sake Brewery

by Yoko Kumano

Since opening in 2015, Sequoia Sake Brewery has been a gem in the heart of the Bay Area. Located just south of Portrero Hill, founders Noriko Kamei and Jake Myrick use their space as a full-scale sake brewery, as well as a venue to host sake tastings. Here they brew all six of their nama (unpasteurized) […]

May 16, 2017

Celebrating Women Producers: Miho Imada of Imada Sake Brewery

by Yoko Kumano

The first time I tried an Imada Shuzo (brewery) sake was in 2014 when we opened our bottle shop in Oakland. The savory acidity of the Fukucho Forgotton Fortune junmai made my mouth water, and I have been a convert ever since. I love having Forgotton Fortune with oysters and manila clams, both abundant in […]

May 15, 2017

Sake Gumi News: Women Sake Makers (May 2017)

by Yoko Kumano

Miho Imada of Imada Sake Brewery and me with two of the bottles offered this month for Sake Gumi! May sakes ship today for Sake Gumi, our monthly sake subscription club. If you like what’s on deck here, you should join! We are celebrating women makers at Umami Mart this month. From spotlighting Jennifer Colliau […]

April 25, 2017

Event Recap: 2nd Annual Sake Dinner at Camino

by Yoko Kumano

I always get nervous before an event because I want it to be the best that it can be. Last week’s 2nd Annual Sake Dinner at Camino restaurant was no exception. I tossed and turned all night, imagining how the whole dinner would progress. As soon as we started setting up Thursday afternoon, my mind […]

April 15, 2017

Sake Gumi News: Spring Bling (April 2017)

by Yoko Kumano

Kayoko and me with Jiro, holding a Sake Gumi Tote! April sakes ship today for Sake Gumi, our monthly sake subscription club. If you like what’s on deck here, you should join! Spring is upon us and as I write this letter, perhaps the last of the April showers for the year are coming down. […]

March 15, 2017

Sake Gumi News: Family (March 2017)

by Yoko Kumano

March sakes ship today for Sake Gumi, our monthly sake subscription club. If you like what’s on deck here, you should join! What is life without family? Less joy, bonding, and headaches! Love ’em or hate ’em, they are a part of our lives – they keep us grounded and remind us of why we […]

March 7, 2017

Event Recap: Japanify All Day at Umami Mart

by Yoko Kumano

One of the best things to come out of 2016 was Japanify All Day, a zine that includes 21 simple Japanese recipes that I wrote, and that Kayoko and Sarah edited. I am so proud of this little zine that was produced entirely in-house and printed just down the road at Solstice Press in West […]

February 21, 2017

Japanify: Takikomi Gohan

by Yoko Kumano

Takikomi Gohan (mixed rice) is one of those comfort foods that fills the kitchen with an earthy aroma. I love cooking this in the winter and coming home to the flavors of shiitake mushrooms and hijiki. I also throw in mushrooms that happen to be in season for an extra layer of flavor. Matsutake mushrooms […]

February 16, 2017

Event Recap: 4th Annual Japan Beer Fest

by Yoko Kumano

This past Sunday, we hosted Japan Beer Fest along with the Trappist for the fourth time. Japan Beer Fest has become an annual Old Oakland tradition that falls on a Sunday during SF Beer Week. On this day, the Trappist switches out all the taps of their front and back bars with Japanese craft beers and […]

February 15, 2017

Sake Gumi News: Extra Dry + Japanify (February 2017)

by Yoko Kumano

February sakes ship today for Sake Gumi, our monthly sake subscription club. If you like what’s on deck here, you should join! This month at Umami Mart, we are celebrating our very first publication, a recipe zine titled Japanify All Day. It’s a compilation of 21 simple Japanese recipes that I created for home cooks. I started […]