Sake Tasting | Shamisen Workshop | Karuta Tournament | NCMA Loves Anime

Animazement is excited to present our series of sake tasting sessions.  Led by Sara Guterbock of the Sake School of America, you'll learn all the basics. How is sake made? What are the main styles? How does it pair with food? And most importantly, how does it taste? Each session includes a tasting of 6 different sakes.

Note: There will be a small plate of food served with this event which may include dairy, nuts, fruits and other allergens. Please be aware prior to registering for this event. If you have any questions, please email info@animazement.org.

Tickets for each session cost $40 per person. Seating is limited and reservations are required. You must be legally old enough to drink to attend these sessions. IDs will be checked at the door. Each sake tasting session has room for 36 people. We’ll sell 26 tickets in advance and 10 at the door.

Sessions are hosted by Sara E. Guterbock.

Ticket sales begin:  TBD

What is Sake?  How is it made?  What are the main styles?  What are the most important key words?  How does it pair with food?  How should it be stored?  How does one taste it?  This is one stop shopping for ALL the magic of this ethereal beverage, including a tasting of 6 different sakes!!

Sara E. Guterbock, CBS, ISS, ASP, JSA Sake Diploma, CS, CWE, DipWSET is an Educator with Sake School of America and the National Sales Manager for New York Mutual Trading Company, the United States’ most prestigious importer of fine Craft Sake, Spirits & Beer from Japan.

Sara is a Certified Sommelier (CS) through the Court of Master Sommeliers, a Certified Wine Educator (CWE) through the Society of Wine Educators and received her Diploma in Wine & Spirits (DipWSET) through the Wine and Spirits Education Trust in London, England, in 2012.    In 2014, Sara was among the first groups of people in the United States to be qualified as a Kikisake-Shi, or International Sake Sommelier (ISS) through Sake School of America & The Sake Service Institute of Japan (SSI).  In January of 2017, Sara became one of a limited number of Level 3 Sake Educators for the WSET, worldwide, and in 2018, she became one of the first 4 people in the USA to earn her Diploma in Sake from the Japan Sommelier Association (JSA).   In 2019 she completed the Advanced Sake Professional (ASP) course, in Japan, with John Gauntner and she has also earned qualifications as a Certified Sake Adviser and Certified Shochu Adviser through Sake School of America.  In 2023, she was qualified as an “Official Sake Lecturer” for SSI, Japan.  Since 2016, Sara has been the Certified Sake Advisor and SSI’s International Kikisake-Shi courses with Sake School of America.  She now facilitates these certifications as well as the WSET Sake Qualifications & Japan Sommelier Association’s International Sake Diploma Course in the Southeastern United States.

When she’s not spreading awareness of Sake in the USA & beyond, you might find her teaching Yoga in Charlotte, NC!

Join in a rare & interactive shamisen workshop with Japan's top players! Build a mini shamisen and learn the basics of how to play!

In this rare and interactive workshop from Japan’s top players, you will have a chance to:

- Experience LIVE Tsugaru Shamisen

- Put together your own Mini Shamisen (That you can take home with you!!)

- Learn the basics of Shamisen and even how to play a song!

Tickets are $59 per person.

Did you attend this workshop last year but want to learn a bit more? Do you already have a Shamisen? Join Ki&Ki for another session!

This is a rare and interactive workshop from Japan’s top players. You will have a chance to expand your knowledge of the shamisen!

This is considered the "experienced peoples course". NOTE: This event will not be selling or building Shamisen. This event requires you to **BRING YOUR OWN SHAMISEN or MINI-SHAMISEN. There will be no shamisen available for sale or for build during this event!

Tickets are $49 per person.

Visit their website to learn more about shamisen: https://www.learnshamisen.com

Shamisen Shop 'Rakuya': https://shami1000rakuya.com

Ticket Sales begin: TBD