SORACHI BIRTHDAY FEST.2026 Celebrating the Legendary Hop “Sorachi Ace” — Sept 5 (Sat) at Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo

Sapporo Beer Co., Ltd., a group company of Sapporo Holdings Ltd., will celebrate the 42nd anniversary(1) of the legendary hop "Sorachi Ace," born in Hokkaido and recognized worldwide, by hosting the in-person event "SORACHI BIRTHDAY FEST.2026" at Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo on Saturday, September 5, 2026.

This event, first held in 2019 when the beer made only with Sorachi Ace, "Sapporo SORACHI 1984" (hereinafter "SORACHI 1984"), was launched for year-round sale, is now in its eighth edition. Each year, we invite a variety of guests connected to SORACHI 1984 to share its charms.

On the day of the event, in reference to the birth year of Sorachi Ace, all participants will raise a toast simultaneously at 19:08:04 to celebrate its birth. This year, we will again feature calligraphy works themed on SORACHI 1984, music performances, and a rakugo performance created by master rakugo storyteller Tsuruko Hayashiya specifically for SORACHI 1984. Newly added this year are a Bon Odori performance featuring taiko group Hama and a master of the Shōha Wakayanagi-ryū school.

We will continue to communicate the appeal of beer through unique brews and various events, contributing to "a rich society and life with new alcoholic beverages."

(1) Sorachi Ace was registered as a variety by Sapporo Beer Co., Ltd. on September 5, 1984.

■Event Overview

1. Event name

SORACHI BIRTHDAY FEST.2026 × Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo "Tokyo Yakumo ~Yakumo~" A one-day limited event woven with Japanese culture to celebrate the lingering onset

2. Date and time

Saturday, September 5, 2026, 18:30–around 21:00 (registration opens at 18:00)

3. Venue

Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo, Grand Hall Tsubaki

2-10-8 Sekiguchi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo

*Please check the reception location at the Banquet Building 3rd floor information desk.

4. Program

- Presentation of calligraphy works by calligrapher Taku Kosugi themed on SORACHI 1984 (session with pianist Asako Yoshida planned)

- Music performance themed on SORACHI 1984 by clarinet and saxophone player Yoshihiro Tsujimoto

- Rakugo (comic storytelling) created for SORACHI 1984 by master Tsuruko Hayashiya

- Bon Odori (traditional dance) performance by taiko group Hama and a master of the Shōha Wakayanagi-ryū school

- Toast by all participants at 19:08:04 in reference to the birth year of Sorachi Ace, and more

5. How to participate

Please apply via the following URL. Participation is on a first-come, first-served basis.

https://hotel-chinzanso-tokyo.jp/event/plan/sorachi/

Details are planned as follows:

- Application period: From 12:00 noon on Monday, June 15, 2026

*Applications will close once the capacity is reached on a first-come, first-served basis.

- Fee: JPY 14,000 (tax included)

- Capacity: Approximately 250 people

*This event is limited to those aged 20 and over.

*SORACHI 1984 will be available as all-you-can-drink (a canned SORACHI 1984 will be provided as a welcome drink; from the second cup onward it will be served on draft).

*Food is included.

*Payment is required in advance.

6. Presenters

1) Calligrapher: Taku Kosugi

Graduated from International Christian University (ICU), Department of Arts and Sciences. He began calligraphy at his grandmother's calligraphy classroom and has studied under Kanzo Kayashima and Kazuo Tsurumi. After a production period in Paris, France, from 2017 to 2018, he returned to Japan. Currently he runs a "calligraphy school" in Kamakura. While creating works that interpret calligraphy from multifaceted perspectives, he collaborates with various artists including musicians. He plans and produces exhibitions, design contributions, stage and event live performances.

2) Clarinet & Saxophone player: Yoshihiro Tsujimoto

Clarinet and saxophone player Yoshihiro Tsujimoto is the leader of the instrumental band POLYPLUS, which is pushing toward "Budokan in 5 years," and a member of the entertainment jazz band Calmera. Skilled in both clarinet and saxophone, he has participated in music for films and TV dramas including the film "Dr. Coto's Clinic" and the drama "The Confidence Man JP," handled music for Sapporo Beer’s "Sapporo SORACHI 1984" and Asahi Shimbun Publications’ "Getter's Iida's Five-Star Three-Heart Fortune-Telling" for 2024/2025/2026, among others. He won the Grand Prize in the Player category and the Clarinet Player category at the 2024 Musical Instrument Store Awards. He is also a PR ambassador for Tenri City, Nara Prefecture, and works as a music event producer.

3) Master Tsuruko Hayashiya

Profile: Tsuruko Hayashiya / Rakugo storyteller, from Takasaki City, Gunma Prefecture, graduated from Chuo University Faculty of Letters
Media appearances include commentary on Nippon Television's "Shinsou Houdo Bankisha!" narration on BS Fuji's "Japan's Most Ordinary and Delicious Ueno Restaurant," and TBS Radio's "~Tokyo 042~ Tama Moriage Sengen." She apprenticed to the ninth-generation Masazo Hayashiya in 2010 and in March 2024 became the first woman in rakugo to be promoted to the rank of shin'uchi. She works on classic comic stories, human-interest pieces, and new rakugo, and has taken on challenges such as retelling classics like "Shibahama," "Kowakare," and "Konya Takao" from the perspectives of female characters like proprietresses and courtesans—efforts that have been featured in various media including NHK General's "Mokugeki! Nippon," Nippon Television's "NEWS ZERO," and Bungeishunju.

Official site: https://tsuruko.jp

4) Taiko group Hama

Hama is a creative taiko ensemble that draws on Edo era elegance, traditional tunes transmitted across Japan, festival pieces full of dynamism, and original compositions. They have appeared on television programs including the New Year's special of "Banana Man's Early Morning Delicious!", performed in content related to Mao Asada, appeared in the film "Raiou," and held solo performances overseas for cultural exchange in Rwanda, Africa. They actively promote Japanese culture domestically and internationally, delivering memorable moments with taiko sounds that combine power with delicacy and dignity.

5) MC: Jump Nakazawa

Representative Director of Isshin-do Inc. and a professional demonstrator. He connects people, goods, and services through his speaking. He is ranked No.1 for requests and repeat bookings in TV shopping, radio shopping, events, corporate seminars, and presentation services, and has worked across the nation. He also served as a hostess MC at Oktoberfest.

Appearances include NHK "Process of Professionals," ETV "For Friday Solos," Nippon TV "Mail Order King Competition," "Ariyoshi's Reflection Meeting," TBS "King's Brunch," TV Asahi "Jikou Keisatsu," etc.

HP: https://lit.link/jumpnakazawa

■Product Overview

1. Product name

Sapporo SORACHI 1984

2. Packaging

350ml can / 10L keg

3. Characteristics

- A light golden ale style beer that brings out the hinoki (cypress) and lemongrass-like aromas unique to Sorachi Ace through a proprietary dry-hopping method.

*Dry hopping refers to adding hops during the fermentation stage in addition to the usual addition during the brewing stage. This method can extract hop aroma components more directly.

- You can enjoy a refreshing taste with a lingering flavorful aftertaste