Are you into Sake (酒)?
We had an incredible time participating in LB Sake Day on Saturday, September 6, 2025, in Long Beach, CA, organized by Sake Secret (See below more about Sake Secret)!
This was our very first time joining this vibrant event, and we were thrilled to be part of the celebration.
It was a wonderful opportunity to share our award-winning green tea, our one-and-only Sumiyaki Japanese coffee, and a few surprise items with so many sake enthusiasts and tea lovers.
Here is a short recap video of the event:
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Thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth—we truly enjoyed connecting with you!
🍶About This Event
LB Sake Day wasn’t just about sipping sake—it was a full culinary celebration nestled in the beautiful gardens of Rancho Los Cerritos. Here’s what guests experienced:
- Unlimited Sake Tastings: Tickets included all-you-can-sip sake—responsibly served, of course. Guests also enjoyed delicious food available for purchase throughout the day. And yes—there was unlimited tea and coffee tasting from us too! : )
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Featured Food Vendors:
- Wagyu Street — Indulge in premium Wagyu bowls, bento boxes, sushi, and more from this gourmet spot inside The Hangar food hall.
- Kagura (Katsu Sando) — Known for their melt-in-your-mouth tonkatsu sandwiches at various L.A. area locations.
- Wabi Sabi Sushi — A sleek sushi spot created by Executive Sushi Chef, Makoto Kariu, offers a mobile omakase experience that brings the elegance of Japanese sushi craftsmanship directly to private gatherings. Guests enjoyed exquisite, chef-curated sushi prepared on-site with true wabi-sabi spirit.
- Shaved Ice
- PLUS: We’ll be offering our own award-winning green tea, Sumiyaki Japanese coffee, and a surprise treat only available at the event.
📍Where was the Event?
LB Sake Day was held at the beautiful and historic Rancho Los Cerritos in Long Beach, CA. Built in 1844, this stunning site is one of Southern California’s most significant historic landmarks, known for its picturesque gardens, adobe-style architecture, and serene atmosphere.
Set within a lush, tree-lined landscape, the venue provided the perfect backdrop for savoring sake tastings under the warm California sunshine. Between sips, guests strolled through the gardens and soaked in the charming surroundings that make Rancho Los Cerritos a beloved local destination.
Venue: Rancho Los Cerritos
Address: 4600 Virginia Rd, Long Beach, CA 90807
(Google Maps)
⏲️Date & Hours
Saturday, September 6, 2025
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VIP Ticket Entry:
12:00 PM (Early access for limited-release pours) -
General Admission:
1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
🎫Tickets (Event is 21+)
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VIP Admission:
$91.71 — includes early entry at 12:00 PM plus exclusive access to limited-release sakes -
General Admission:
$65.19 — entry at 1:00 PM with all tastings and a commemorative o-choko (おちょこ) cup
🚗Parking & Getting There
Rancho Los Cerritos Address: 4600 Virginia Rd, Long Beach, CA 90807
(Google Maps)
- Free Parking was available in the main lot across from the entry gates, including accessible spaces.
- Accessibility: Rancho Los Cerritos is wheelchair-accessible with accessible parking, paths, and docents on-site.
- Pets: Service animals were welcome, but no pets were allowed. (Sorry!😢)
People Behind the Event
This event was organized by Sake Secret, the first (and so far only) dedicated sake specialty shop in Los Angeles County.
Greg Beck, the owner of Sake Secret, speaks better Japanese than I (really!). (If you know me well, you know that I came to the USA when I was a kid, so my Japanese is not that good.)
He lived in Hiroshima (広島), Japan, for six years and told me passionately that this event (LB Sake Day) he created was to mimic the atmosphere of the Matsuri (Saijō Sake Festival 西条酒祭り) he experienced in Hiroshima.
Who is Greg Beck
Greg Beck is a Certified Sake Sommelier (SSI) and certified Shochu Advisor, with a professional background in craft beer brewing as well. He became a certified sake sommelier in 2019 and created Sake Secret to demystify sake for Americans – offering unbiased guidance beyond any one brand or distributor. Beck emphasizes that sake can pair with a wide range of cuisines (not just Japanese food) and works to make this traditional beverage more accessible to local restaurants and consumers.
Although not Japanese himself, Greg Beck lived in Japan for six years, during which he became fluent in the Language. He worked for the Japanese government in Hiroshima Prefecture and first fell in love with sake at the renowned Saijō Sake Festival there. This immersion in Japan’s culture and festivals sparked his passion for sake and gave him a rich understanding of regional brewing differences. Beck’s international insight now informs the educational tastings and events he hosts in Long Beach.
Who are Sake Secret? (Truly a Secret Spot...)
Greg founded Sake Secret as a pop-up inside a local brewery and later secured its own storefront in 2023, following a successful Kickstarter campaign.
On the Kickstarter campaign page, you can see a short video of Greg's vision for Sake Secret, which he brought to life with his shop.
The shop serves as both a retail store and an educational tasting room, where curious locals can sip, shop, and learn about Japan’s diverse nihonshu (日本酒 sake) offerings.
Inside Sake Secret offers few chairs for bars or work as an educational seminar.
A Modern Kakuuchi Experience in Long Beach — Bringing a Taste of Japan’s Sake Culture to Long Beach
Sake Secret offers a unique sake experience in Long Beach, which I think is modeled after the kakuuchi (角打ち) style popular in Japan. It’s more than just a sake shop—it’s a place to sip, learn, and connect.
Visitors can enjoy sake by the glass, explore curated flights, and chat directly with Greg, a certified sake sommelier, to discover bottles that are often hard to find elsewhere. It’s casual, welcoming, and designed to make sake approachable for everyone, whether you’re new to it or a longtime fan.
But what exactly is kakuuchi?
In Japan, a kakuuchi refers to a traditional liquor shop where customers can enjoy on-site drinking.
These spaces began as small sakaya (酒屋 liquor shops) where people would buy a bottle and enjoy a quick glass standing at the counter before heading home. Unlike bars or izakaya (居酒屋), kakuuchi spots focus on tasting and exploration rather than full dining.
What makes kakuuchi special:
- Relaxed, casual atmosphere — no reservations or formality required
- Curated selections — access to unique, small-batch sake that you won’t find at supermarkets
- Community-driven — a place where people gather, chat, and learn together over shared tastings
By blending this authentic Japanese kakuuchi tradition with Long Beach’s laid-back vibe, Sake Secret creates a warm, inviting space where you can explore Japan’s diverse sake culture right here in Southern California.
A Bar For Sake Lovers or Non-Sake Lovers
Sake Secret offers bar seating where you can enjoy sake pairing or select from the hundreds of sake options available. You can also open a bottle and take it home if you cannot finish it.
He also offers local and Japanese draft beer, so you can go with someone who isn't a sake drinker and still have a nice time.
It's like a brewery offering a good selection of wine, so that non-beer drinkers can still enjoy their it time at the brewery. Greg did precisely the same with his setting by carrying quality draft beer at the Sake bar.
Sake Secret Logo - Greg loves cats and has two cats. The wall of the shop also carries a lovely painting of cats in Japanese style.
A Box of Snacks or Mochikomi-OK
Sake Secret offers a snack box that includes cheese, Prosecco, crackers, and more. Surprisingly, they go very well with Sake! (As he also explains in the Kickstarter video here)
Sake Secret offers sake in a wine glass, making it an experience also for wine lovers (trust me). When we visited, he offered sake that is similar to white wine and told us a story behind, that the owner was a fan of wine and wanted to create wine-like sake.
Greg is so knowledgeable and a wonderful storyteller, who can tell you a great deal about every wine, which makes this shop all the more, enjoyable.
One unique culture I am getting used to in Los Angeles is the "Bring Your Own Food" Culture. In Japanese, it is called Mochikomi-ok (持ち込みOK).
Many breweries and bars in the area allow you to bring your own snacks and food. I lived in Portland for a very long time, and this does not happen in Portland. Typically, breweries and bars in Portland also serve food, and it is generally not permitted to bring your own food.
At Sake Secret, you are welcome to bring your own food if you wish. (oh wow)
Truly A Secret Spot
When you know something really good, you don't want to tell too many people; you would only like to share it with your close friends. Sake Secret is a spot for me like that. (and here I am writing about them on my blog... )
Visit Sake Secret
(Note: This address is the Sake Secret shop; the event is at the location mentioned above.)
Sake Secret
460 Pine Ave
Long Beach, CA 90802
Who is Namazake Import?
You know we are new to the Los Angeles area as we have been living in Portland for a long time.
I want to thank my friends Paul and Davvy at Namasake Import for referring me to Greg and Sake Secret.
They will be coming all the way from Portland for this event with their selection of Sake! (Please say hi, they are nice!)
If you are in Portland, you might have heard their name; they often have a pop-up at Portland Night Market. (We had our booth at Portland Night Market earlier, and it is one of our favorite events.)
Let me introduce my friends here.
I love hanging out with serious people who love Japan and bringing the spirit of Japan (literally in this case :) out to the world.
Logo of Namazake Import - representing Shirokuma (しろくま) - a cute white bear
Namasake Paul Import - Boutique Importer with a Fresh Focus
Namazake Paul Imports is a Portland-based craft sake importer on a mission to deliver Japan’s freshest brews to American shores. Co-founded by Paul and Davvy Lee, the boutique importer specializes in nama 生 (unpasteurized) and seasonal sake styles that are rarely seen outside Japan. From Afuri’s bright, contemporary junmai to Takeda Shuzo’s edgy “Skull” series, every bottle in their lineup is hand-picked for its quality and character.
With a strict cold-chain system, Namazake Paul ensures these delicate sakes maintain their integrity from brewery to glass. The company’s strength lies in its founders: Paul brings nearly 20 years of expertise as a beverage director-turned-importer, while Davvy Lee, with over 20 years in sake and beer distribution, leverages his multicultural background and deep industry relationships to connect with breweries and retailers across the globe. Together, Paul and Davvy are redefining how U.S. consumers experience sake—curating bold, boutique labels that pair beautifully with all cuisines.
Meet “Paul” (Founder):
Paul Willenberg (known in sake circles as “Namazake Paul” ) fell in love with sake nearly 20 years ago as a restaurant beverage director. Discovering that sake pairs with food even better than wine in many cases, he became determined to champion craft sake in the U.S. Over the years, Paul transitioned from an enthusiast to opening a sake retail business, and ultimately to launching Namazake Paul Imports as an importer. He wears many hats – from skiing and mushroom hunting in the Pacific Northwest to traveling across Japan each winter to visit breweries (February snow in Niigata is a particular favorite). Paul’s hands-on approach and passion ensure that each sake in the catalog comes with a story and a personal connection.
Meet Davvy Lee (Co-founder/Director):
Davvy Lee brings over 20 years of experience in sake and beer sales & distribution to Namazake Paul’s team. Originally from Malaysia, Davvy is multilingual – a skill that helps bridge cultures when working with Japanese breweries (and yes, “he speaks sake,” the company jokes). An accredited Advanced Sake Professional (Level 3 WSET Sake certified) and long-time industry veteran, Davvy handles operations and client relations, ensuring that the boutique imports successfully reach retailers and sake lovers. His global perspective and deep knowledge of Asian markets complement Paul’s vision, making Namazake Paul Imports a truly dynamic East-West collaboration in the craft sake world.
See You at LB Sake Day 2026!
We were thrilled to join LB Sake Day for the very first time this year and share an unforgettable experience with so many of you. From savoring unique sakes curated by Sake Secret and Namazake Paul Imports to soaking in the serene beauty of Rancho Los Cerritos, it was truly a joyful celebration of Japanese culture and craftsmanship.
At our booth, guests enjoyed our award-winning Japanese green tea, Sumiyaki Japanese coffee, and a few special surprises prepared just for the event.
Whether a seasoned sake enthusiast or simply curious to explore, this event brought together a vibrant and welcoming community—and it sold out quickly this year!
If you'd like to be among the first to hear about LB Sake Day 2026, including ticket announcements and behind-the-scenes updates, be sure to sign up for our newsletter or follow us on Instagram @shopDreamofJapan. We expect next year to sell out just as fast—don’t miss your chance to join us.
Kanpai and see you in 2026! 🥂🍵
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About the author
Kei Nishida
Author, CEO Dream of Japan
Certification: PMP, BS in Computer Science
Education: Western Washington University
