CONTENTS
Bringing Japanese bar tools and sake to America! The passionate challenge of two Japanese-American women.

WORLD TOPICS

Bringing Japanese bar tools and sake to America!
The passionate challenge of two Japanese-American women.

#World Topics America

She has been promoting Japanese sake culture in Oakland, a town near San Francisco, for about 10 years. We spoke to Kayoko Akabori, owner of Umami Mart, which sells Japanese bar tools and sake.

writer：Erika Maeda（サンフランシスコ在住）

Kayoko Akabori on the left and Yoko Kumano on the right in the opening photo. ©Umami Mart.

It has a small bar with a selection of sake and shochu!

A corner of the port city of Oakland, about 20 minutes' drive from San Francisco, California, USA.

On a street lined with burger shops and cafés, a crisp, Japanese-style logo stands out.

It is Umami Mart, which sells made-in-Japan bar tools, alcoholic beverages and sundries.

What catches the eye in the modern, minimalist shop are the white wooden shelves lined with bottles of sake, beer, shochu and whisky imported from Japan.

Japanese sweets and seasonings are also available, and there is even a small bar at the back of the shop!

Become a member and read the rest of this article

Register New Account

  • Register with your e-mail address

    You can register using your e-mail address.
    *Registration is not completed until you have completed payment after temporary registration.

  • OR
  • Register by linking to Facebook

    You can register with the Facebook link.
    *Registration is not completed until payment is completed after linking.