Konishi Sake Brewing to Hold Beer Fest on June 20 Marking Chojugura's 31st Anniversary and the 160th Anniversary of Japan-Europe Diplomatic Relations
Konishi Sake Brewing will hold a beer festival on June 20 to celebrate the 31st anniversary of its Itami site, Shirayuki Brewery Village Chojugura, and the 160th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Belgium. Belgian beers, KONISHI BEER, and breweries from the Kansai region will gather, and on the same day there will also be a pre-registration lecture.
Hop BroOn June 20 in Itami, the Chojugura Beer Festival will be held. It's a pretty hot event that celebrates both the 31st anniversary of Konishi Sake Brewing's "Shirayuki Brewery Village Chojugura" and the 160th anniversary of Japan-Belgium diplomatic relations.
MugiWait, 31 years and 160 years at the same time!? That's way too celebratory. Does that mean there'll be lots of beer to drink?
Hop BroExactly. A total of 30 beers will gather at Shirayuki Brewery Village Chojugura. Belgian beers, KONISHI BEER, and breweries from Kansai will all be there, so you'll definitely fall into a tasting comparison rabbit hole.
MugiWhat do you mean, a tasting comparison rabbit hole? That sounds scary! But I'm curious. Which breweries are coming?
Hop BroFor example, ÉBIR BREW STUDIO, Heal Soul Brewery, KYOTO NUDE BREWERY, Milestone Brewing Higashi-Kakogawa Brewery, and Shirayuki Brewery Village Chojugura will all participate. Just saying Kansai breweries are gathering makes the tables feel lively already.
MugiWhoa! But why is Konishi Sake Brewing so connected to Belgian beer? I'm a little curious about the link with Belgium.
Hop BroThat's what's interesting about Konishi Sake Brewing. They started their import business in 1988, and based on the sister-city partnership between Itami and Hasselt, Belgium, established in 1985, they introduced Belgian beer to Japan. Even though it's a sake company, it has also carefully cultivated overseas beer culture.
MugiWait, a sake company is that strong with beer too!? The feeling of Japanese sake and Belgium coexisting is kind of romantic.
Hop BroAnd on the same day, there will also be the Tashinami Lecture: Beer Edition. The morning session is craft beer, the afternoon session is Belgian beer, and both are limited to people 20 and over, with 20 spots available per session on a first-come, first-served basis. The participation fee is 1,500 yen including tastings, and applications open from 10:00 on May 11.
MugiWow, learning and drinking is the best! At 1,500 yen including tastings, I'd want to do my homework before drinking, and my throat is already heading to the event venue!
Hop BroRight? It's great that you can taste local community and international exchange through beer in the atmosphere of Itami. The flow of learning in the lecture and then tackling 30 varieties at the festival should be incredibly fun.
MugiThen I'll start with Belgian beer! The sound of a 31st anniversary toast is great, and if I go with Hop-senpai, I'll definitely want to drink everything.
Konishi Sake Brewing Co. (Itami, Hyogo Prefecture) will hold the "Chojugura Beer Festival" on Saturday, June 20, from 11:00 to 16:00, to commemorate the 31st anniversary of "Shirayuki Brewery Village Chojugura" and the 160th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Belgium.
The venue, Shirayuki Brewery Village Chojugura, is a multi-purpose facility that has grown together with the local community in Itami, the birthplace of sake brewing. It opened in 1995 with a museum, restaurant, and shop, and has long been loved as a place to "learn, play, eat, and enjoy" sake culture.
This festival will bring together a total of 30 beers, including Belgian beers, KONISHI BEER, and breweries from the Kansai region. Participating breweries include ÉBIR BREW STUDIO, Heal Soul Brewery, KYOTO NUDE BREWERY, Milestone Brewing Higashi-Kakogawa Brewery, and Shirayuki Brewery Village Chojugura.
Konishi Sake Brewing's beer business traces back to its launch of Belgian beer imports in 1988. With the backdrop of the sister-city tie between Itami and Hasselt, Belgium, established in 1985, the company has introduced distinctive Belgian beers to Japan, which has become a major feature of its history. While rooted in the tradition of sake brewing, Konishi Sake Brewing has also embraced overseas beer culture, which is part of its distinctive character.
On the same day, the lecture "The 14th Tashinami Lecture: Beer Edition" will also be held to help participants enjoy beer more deeply. The morning session will cover craft beer, and the afternoon session will cover Belgian beer. Both sessions are limited to participants aged 20 and over, with 20 people accepted on a first-come, first-served basis for each. The participation fee is 1,500 yen per session, including tasting. Applications open at 10:00 on Monday, May 11.
This event, where the sake culture nurtured in Itami and the Belgian beer culture expanded over many years can be experienced together, is likely to offer a chance to feel both a milestone for the local community and the history of international exchange through beer.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroOn June 20 in Itami, the Chojugura Beer Festival will be held. It's a pretty hot event that celebrates both the 31st anniversary of Konishi Sake Brewing's "Shirayuki Brewery Village Chojugura" and the 160th anniversary of Japan-Belgium diplomatic relations.
MugiWait, 31 years and 160 years at the same time!? That's way too celebratory. Does that mean there'll be lots of beer to drink?
Hop BroExactly. A total of 30 beers will gather at Shirayuki Brewery Village Chojugura. Belgian beers, KONISHI BEER, and breweries from Kansai will all be there, so you'll definitely fall into a tasting comparison rabbit hole.
MugiWhat do you mean, a tasting comparison rabbit hole? That sounds scary! But I'm curious. Which breweries are coming?
Hop BroFor example, ÉBIR BREW STUDIO, Heal Soul Brewery, KYOTO NUDE BREWERY, Milestone Brewing Higashi-Kakogawa Brewery, and Shirayuki Brewery Village Chojugura will all participate. Just saying Kansai breweries are gathering makes the tables feel lively already.
MugiWhoa! But why is Konishi Sake Brewing so connected to Belgian beer? I'm a little curious about the link with Belgium.
Hop BroThat's what's interesting about Konishi Sake Brewing. They started their import business in 1988, and based on the sister-city partnership between Itami and Hasselt, Belgium, established in 1985, they introduced Belgian beer to Japan. Even though it's a sake company, it has also carefully cultivated overseas beer culture.
MugiWait, a sake company is that strong with beer too!? The feeling of Japanese sake and Belgium coexisting is kind of romantic.
Hop BroAnd on the same day, there will also be the Tashinami Lecture: Beer Edition. The morning session is craft beer, the afternoon session is Belgian beer, and both are limited to people 20 and over, with 20 spots available per session on a first-come, first-served basis. The participation fee is 1,500 yen including tastings, and applications open from 10:00 on May 11.
MugiWow, learning and drinking is the best! At 1,500 yen including tastings, I'd want to do my homework before drinking, and my throat is already heading to the event venue!
Hop BroRight? It's great that you can taste local community and international exchange through beer in the atmosphere of Itami. The flow of learning in the lecture and then tackling 30 varieties at the festival should be incredibly fun.
MugiThen I'll start with Belgian beer! The sound of a 31st anniversary toast is great, and if I go with Hop-senpai, I'll definitely want to drink everything.
