International Sake Day is celebrated on October 1st.

In Japan, rice is harvested in the fall around October. Breweries across every region of Japan begin their sake production as soon as they acquire the new rice. In 1978, the Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association designated October 1st as Sake Day, being the day that the new season of sake production begins. Now, it is a day in which many Japanese sake lovers around the world yell "kanpai", making it "International Sake Day".
 

Normally we would want to celebrate the new season of sake production by actually having a kanpai with everyone in Seattle in person. However, this year we will be sending everyone International Sake Day messages online. 

We will show you a video connecting several video messages from people both in the US and Japan involved in sake. Each of them will convey their great love of Japanese sake in their respective messages. So pour yourself a glass of the Japanese sake you've chosen, and while enjoying each of the messages in this video, please join us in saying "International Sake Day, Cheers! Kanpai!"

-Hyogo Business & Cultural Center