Sankt Gallen Brewery, based in Atsugi, Kanagawa, has announced the arrival of its popular 2026 “Long Cat Mugs” at Tokyo Port. As of September 16, the shipment was entering customs procedures before being transported to the brewery. Due to shipping delays caused by international conditions and weather, the brewery said it could not yet guarantee that the mugs would be available from the first day of the events.

This year’s mugs come in four cat patterns: black, tuxedo, calico, and mackerel tabby. A total of 20,000 mugs were manufactured in Germany—twice last year’s quantity. To give as many visitors as possible a chance to use one, the brewery will limit distribution to one mug per person per queue. Specific patterns may not be selectable depending on stock.

The mugs are planned for use at Atsugi Oktoberfest, running September 18–27, and Yokohama Oktoberfest, running September 18–October 4. Both venues use a glass-deposit system. The deposit for a cat mug is ¥2,000 and will be refunded when the mug is returned. Deposits are not refundable for broken, lost, or unreturned mugs. The mugs are loaned items, and taking them home is not officially permitted.

The cat motif also reflects the brewery’s own history. The idea began with a black cat rescued from a drainage ditch beside the brewery. It draws on the long-standing “brewery cat” tradition, in which cats helped protect malt from pests. Sankt Gallen also sells “Black Cat Okimochi Beer,” with part of its proceeds donated to cat-rescue activities.

Sankt Gallen operates from Atsugi and produces a broad range of beers, including Golden Ale, YOKOHAMA XPA, and Shonan Gold. For festivalgoers, the arrival of the mugs adds a distinctive visual element to the brewery’s varied beer lineup.