An unprecedented space unfolds at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store. A delicious experience to 'see' Dassai and 'taste' art. 'Art and Dassai, Dassai and Art' to be held from Wednesday, May 13.
An unprecedented collaboration event, 'Art and Dassai, Dassai and Art,' will be held at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store from May 13, 2026. This event combines the world of the premium sake brand Dassai with various artists, offering a unique experience to appreciate Dassai through art and art through Dassai.
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- 📰 Published: May 1, 2026 at 21:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 1, 2026 at 12:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 1, 2026 at 18:41 (6h 9m after Collected)
From Wednesday, May 13, 2026, the 'Art and Dassai, Dassai and Art' POPUP will commence at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store.
relentlessly pursues sake brewing to the extreme, striving for that single phrase from customers: 'Ah, delicious...!'. This sincere attitude deeply resonates with the essence of art, which seeks absolute beauty, pares it down, moves viewers, and creates happiness in space. Both Dassai and art confront and continuously pursue their true essence.
In this event, where the evolving meets diverse artists to create new value, artists Yuriko Asano, Maki Oshima, and Shu Yonezawa will exhibit works created after experiencing Dassai's sake brewing. A wide range of artists and creators, including painter Shotaro Sanada, plush toy artist , and , have been inspired by and elevated their expressions.
'See' . 'Taste' art. By enjoying through the filter of art, and art through the filter of , we deliver an unprecedented experience. Artists gathered under the philosophy of 'highest quality to the world' and 'tradition and innovation' weave new stories with their respective sensibilities. From this place, where the desire to connect Japanese culture to the future intersects, we will transmit the new charm and possibilities of .
'Art and Dassai, Dassai and Art'
Period: Wednesday, May 13, 2026 - Tuesday, May 26, 2026 [Ends 7:30 PM on the final day]
Venue: Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store, Main Building 1F, Central Hall
See details
Why 'Dassai and Art'?
believes that over 200 kurabito (brewery workers) will do anything for delicious Dassai, no matter how much effort, data, or the latest technology it takes.
However, this approach differs from the mainstream thinking in the current Japanese sake industry and is difficult to convey. Therefore, we invited artists to visit the brewery, experience and understand Dassai, and then elevate their inspirations into art. This not only unearths our brand but also showcases the thoughts, philosophies, and passions of each artist.
This is the place where 'Dassai and Art' and 'Art and Dassai' meet, allowing both to feel each other's true essence.
Kazuhiro Sakurai, Representative Director, Dassai
Towards that surpasses the best
'We only brew Junmai Daiginjo sake' — under this unwavering belief, has specialized exclusively in Junmai Daiginjo sake, which requires the most effort in sake brewing, and has achieved a clear, fruity taste without impurities by polishing sake rice to its extreme. We also focus on respecting and supporting the producers of Yamada Nishiki, the sake rice that underpins its quality, holding the 'Yamada Nishiki Project to Surpass the Best' annually since 2019. Yamada Nishiki grown by farmers nationwide is rigorously judged, and the winning rice is crafted into a special and sent to the global stage. The challenge of brewers and stakeholders working together to pioneer the future of Japanese sake continues.
using Kitajima rice: Dassai Migaki Sono Saki e 55,000 yen (720ml)
For this event, to create a sake that even seasoned fans will marvel at, we used Yamada Nishiki sake rice grown by Masaharu Kitajima of , a rice farmer from Fukuoka Prefecture, who was the sole grand prize winner of the 'Yamada Nishiki Project to Surpass the Best' in 2020 and 2023. We have prepared a special bottle where you can savor the true essence of .
It offers an elegant and delicate aroma, a spreading sweetness and freshness reminiscent of fruit, with a smooth mouthfeel and a pleasant lingering finish.
Works expressing 'Dassai' by artists exhibited at the venue
Artists and creators challenging the world visited Dassai's brewery. They will exhibit art works expressing their feelings, philosophies, and aesthetics.
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She toured various parts of Yamaguchi Prefecture and focused on the Iwakuni brewery, set against a backdrop of rich nature and an environment suitable for sake brewing. She focuses on the 'hands' of people seen in 's sake brewing, the interaction of rice, crops, yeast, and various living creatures, expressing their organic connections as a theme.
Profile
A painter born in Miyagi Prefecture in 1990. Her work goes beyond mere botanical painting, encompassing contemporary themes such as the cycle of life, coexistence of humans and nature, and women's labor, characterized by rich colors and vibrant expressions.
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She visited sake breweries and rice farmers, interviewing the sites of sake brewing and rice cultivation where uncompromising trial and error are repeated. She focused on the relationship between control and entrustment in fermentation, finding that this attitude also applies to her artwork. In this collaboration, she created art that conveys the deep connection between Japanese sake and human endeavors.