agataJapan presents Shinise Festival 2023: A Market Featuring Fine Sakes, Exquisite Products, and Local Specialties from Long-Standing and Traditional Japanese Businesses

We are delighted to introduce an event which showcases two of the things Japanese people most closely associate with autumn: art and good food.
The Shinise Festival 2023 by agataJapan is an event featuring some of Japan’s best shinise (long-standing/traditional) businesses, as well as their culture and techniques. It will be held in the Nihonbashi area of Tokyo on Shinise Day and the following day, October 20th-21st.
The event was planned by Starmark Co., Ltd., which runs “Shinisetsuhan.net,” an online shopping website that sells incredible products from shinise businesses all around Japan. (Hosted by the Shinise Festival Executive Committee)
Five model businesses from the Edo Tokyo Kirari Project—Ninben, Yamamoto Noriten, Toshimaya Honten, Eitaro Sohonpo, and Edo Kumiko Tatematsu—will also feature in the event, helping to liven up the festival.

Japan is said to have the most shinise companies (in this case defined as companies over a century old) in the world. Indeed, Shinise Day was proposed by “Shinisetsuhan.net” operator Starmark Co., Ltd., in order to bring more attention to the extraordinary culture and techniques of these shinise businesses. The company discussed the proposal with the Toto Norenkai Public Relations Committee, then submitted it to the Japan Anniversary Association. Following their approval, October 20 became Shinise Day, adate was based on the traditional festival of Ebisu-ko, celebrating Ebisu-sama, known as the god of business.
The event features a myriad of booths that will allow visitors to see, touch, and taste tradition, from a Japanese sake tasting booth, where visitors can enjoy fine sakes from shinise sake breweries from across Japan, to a booth promoting the economic vitalization of shinise businesses, municipalities, and the local area, with its exquisite traditional products and local specialties. The festival will also feature a kimono dressing experience, and on the second day, a special (classical Japanese dance-drama) performance of a Noh play, a form of classical Japanese dance-drama.
We invite you to come experience the food and culture of these shinise businesses, under the crisp autumn sky.

Event Overview – Shinise Festival 2023 by agataJapan
● Event Name
Market Featuring Fine Sakes, Exquisite Products, and Local Specialties from Long-Standing/Traditional Japanese Businesses
Shinise Festival 2023 by agataJapan

● Shinise Market in Nihonbashi
Date/Time: October 21 (Sat.), 2023 / 11:00 A.M. – 7:00 P.M. (Tentative)
Venue: Fukutoku no Mori/Naka-dori area (Nearest stations: Mitsukoshimae Station [Tokyo Metro]/Shin-Nihombashi Station)
Retail, food/beverages, and exhibits by shinise businesses / Japanese sake tasting corner featuring sake from breweries from across Japan / Sale of original craft gins (by the Prefecture Gin Project) / Live performance by a famous DJ / Noh (classical Japanese dance-drama) performance (Title: Shojo / Shite [Protagonist]: Otomasa Sakai / Waki [Supporting Actor]: Yasuhiro Noguchi / Koken [Overseer] & Jiutai [Chorus]: Ototaka Sakai, Yasuki Kobayakawa, & Yasumitsu Kobayakawa / Fue [Flute]: Takahiro Fujita / Kotsuzumi [Small Drum]: Ikio Sowa / Ozutsumi [Large Drum]: Takanori Kakihara / Taiko (Taiko Drum): Masato Kotera)　
Public Proposal　https://bit.ly/shinise_festival_slide
Official Website　https://shinisetsuhan.net/collections/shinisefes2023

● Shinise Summit in Nihonbashi　
Date/Time: October 20 (Fri.), 2023 / 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M.　
Venue: +NARU NIHONBASHI
Program: Panel discussions including “Shinise Handicrafts in Nihonbashi” and “Overseas Expansion of Shinise”
There will be a livestream of the event “Japanese Shinise”　https://www.youtube.com/japaneseshinise

Japanese Sake Tasting Booth – Enjoy fine sakes from long-standing breweries from across Japan
This tasting booth, operated by sake breweries from throughout the country, will allow visitors to compare various Japanese sakes, each with their own distinct characteristics. Advance tickets (tasting of five sakes) and premium tickets (tasting of five sakes, plus an original sake cup created in collaboration with the shinise porcelain manufacturer, ARITA PORCELAIN LAB) are available starting today. Availability is limited, so please purchase your tickets as soon as possible.
(As of this date)
Toshimaya Honten, Niida Honke, Yagi-Shuzobu, Tenryou Syuzou, Senjo, Fukui Syuzo, Takanoi Sake Brewery, Takizawa Shuzo, Tamura Shuzojo, Ishikawa Brewery, Matsui Sake Brewery, Ikeda Syuzou, Yosamusume Shuzou, Hachinohe Shurui, Narimasa Sake Brewery
・Premium Ticket (Tasting of five sakes + sake cup in collaboration with shinise porcelain manufacturer / Limited availability): 8,800 yen (with tax)　
https://shinisetsuhan.net/products/shinisefes2023_ticketwshuki
・Advance Ticket (Tasting of five sakes): 2,000 yen (with tax)https://shinisetsuhan.net/products/shinisefes2023_ticket
・Same-Day Tickets (Tasting of five sakes): 2,500 yen (with tax)
・Same-Day Additional Tastings Ticket (Tasting of two sakes / Only available to those who have purchased an Advance Ticket or Same-Day Ticket): 500 yen (with tax)

Economic Vitalization of Shinise Businesses, Municipalities, & Local Communities Booth – Features traditional products and local specialties
Many shinise businesses have agreed to participate this year as well, selling products like wagashi (Japanese confectioneries) and handicrafts, as well as local specialties and food/drinks from across the country. There will also be an unveiling of an original craft gin by agataJapan ORIGINAL).
This is a free event, with open admission. We look forward to seeing you there.
(As of this date)
Ike Syouten, Umezono, Eitaro Sohonpo, Edo Kumiko Tatematsu, Edo Bekkoya, Kashiwaya, Kanesa Katsuobushi Shoten, Kyufuku Brewing Honjima, Kuroeya, Koeido, Konpira Shouyu, Shibuya Nishimura Sohonten, Shushikian Osakaya, Shinshodoh, Shinbashi Tamakiya, Seigetsudo Honten, Yoshino-ya, Sarashino Horii, Taisei Foods, Takatora, Tamura Shuzojo, Chojiya, Saruya, Ninben, Hakocho, Funabashiya, Miyabi,　Yamamoto Nori, agataJapan ORIGINALS (Prefecture Gin Project)
Ibaraki Prefecture Miho Village Tourism Association; Kyo-Branded Products Association; Nanki Mirai x tanabe en+; Sakai City, Fukui Prefecture; Fuji-Izu Japan Agricultural Cooperatives; Miyada Village, Nagano Prefecture
Seibu Shinkin Bank, Chugoku Bank/Setonowa

#KIMONOCROSSING
The theme of this year’s event is “Let’s go out and enjoy traditional culture!” In keeping with this theme, shinise kimono shop Choujiya will host a booth offering a kimono dressing experience, giving visitors an opportunity to familiarize themselves with kimono—an important element of Japanese traditional culture. The experience of walking around the event in traditional Japanese wear promises to be enjoyable for kimono lovers and newbies alike. The kimono rental lasts all day, allowing visitors to really enjoy a proper outing in their traditional dress. There will also be a dedicated photo booth in the venue for visitors who wish to take commemorative photos.
・Limited to six people – Kimono rental/dressing service (Nihonbashi event venue)
https://shinisetsuhan.net/products/itokashi-shinisefes2023-kitsuke02

・Additional option / Limited to six people – Casual kimono hair arrangement
https://shinisetsuhan.net/products/itokashi-shinisefes2023-hair02

Noh Special Performance – Shojo (Kanze School)
The second day of the Shinise Festival will open with a special Noh (classical Japanese dance-drama) performance of Shojo (Kanze School). Tickets will be available starting today. This will be an outdoor performance, taking place in the Fukutoku Garden. Seat availability is limited, so please purchase your tickets as soon as possible.

Date/Time: October 21 (Sat.), 2023 / 11:00 A.M. – 11:30 A.M.
Location: Special venue in Fukutoku Garden, near Fukutoku Shrine
Title: Shojo
Shite [Protagonist]: Otomasa Sakai / Waki (Supporting Actor): Yasuhiro Noguchi / Koken (Overseer) & Jiutai (Chorus): Ototaka Sakai, Yasuki Kobayakawa, & Yasumitsu Kobayakawa / Fue (Flute): Takahiro Fujita / Kotsuzumi (Small Drum): Ikio Sowa / Ozutsumi (Large Drum): Takanori Kakihara / Taiko (Taiko Drum): Masato Kotera

Ticket Saleshttps://shinisetsuhan.net/products/shinisefes2023_nouticket

Starmark Co., Ltd.
Company that makes it its mission to connect Japan’s 47 prefectures with the world’s other 194 countries, facilitating cultural exchange to further mutual understanding and contribute to the realization of a peaceful world.
Bringing the best of Japan to the world / Bringing the best of the world to Japan / Bringing the best of tradition to modern life / Bringing the best of modern life to tradition
Website　https://starmark.co.jp/ja
Company Overview　http://bit.ly/STARMARK_PROFILE_SLIDE
agataJapan.tokyo　https://agatajapan.com/tokyo/

For any inquiries about this release
Starmark Co., Ltd. (Email address): pr@starmark.co.jp