“KANPAI 2024” Event Held to Celebrate Sake Day

The event “KANPAI 2024,” celebrating Sake Day, was held on Saturday, September 28.

“KANPAI,” organized by Media Japan, the company behind the English media platform “OISHII,” began in Singapore in 2014 and has been held annually (except during the Covid-19 period).

This year’s “KANPAI” event was held at The Nest @ Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore and featured two main attractions: a sake dinner and a golf competition. The golf competition kicked off in the afternoon with 25 teams participating in heated matches.

The sake dinner, which began at 6:30 pm, opened with a powerful taiko drum performance by Hibikiya Singapore. Following the performance, the traditional live broadcast from Japan took place for the annual simultaneous “kanpai” (cheers). This year, the broadcast connected with Kawashima Sake Brewery from Takashima City, Shiga Prefecture, to join in the celebratory toast.

The event attracted 240 sake enthusiasts. This year, over 600 bottles of sake from regions such as Shiga, Yamaguchi, Nagano, Fukushima, Kagoshima, Hokkaido, and Niigata were available. In addition, around 100 bottles of shochu and craft gin from Kagoshima were also provided. Creative Japan Food, which specializes in Wagyu beef in Singapore, also participated, adding to the lively atmosphere. Attendees enjoyed Wagyu BBQ, sushi, and Singaporean dishes arranged by the hotel, paired with sake.

Takashi Naito, President of Media Japan, the event’s organizer, commented, “Since starting the event in 2014, it has grown more meaningful each year. This year, we held a dual-themed event with golf for the first time, and we were able to attract many participants. About 70% of attendees were from Singapore, and I believe they enjoyed Japanese sake and food culture. Thanks to Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore and all the exhibitors, we were able to create an event full of smiles. I am truly grateful. Moving forward, I hope to continue contributing, in my small way, to promoting Japan’s local regions.”

Peter Goh, General Manager of Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore and co-organizer of the event, shared his thoughts: “This was our first time hosting such an event, and I believe that both the golf and the dinner were thoroughly enjoyed by all the participants. We look forward to creating an even better event next year.”

KANPAI 2024 Exhibitors:

　1. Civil Assist
　2. Creative Japan Food
　3. Tawaraya　
　4. Kireifood
　5. Omotenashi Japan Trading
　6. Hybrid Laboratory
　7. Nousaku
　8. Nozomi
　9. Ihichirou
　10. Beans Tokyo
　11. Saketaberu
　12. Sea And Earth
　13. Creative Resort