The biggest Japanese department store in Europe, Ichiba, opened in Westfield Shepard’s Bush last July. House of Sake’s client, Keigetsu by Tosa Brewing Co Ltd was proud to provide magnums of Sparkling Junmai Daiginjo Sake John for Ichiba’s opening ceremony reception on 11th July 2018.
The founder, Mr. Tak Tokumine first opened Japan Centre back in 1976…..I was a regular to Japan Centre in my student life in the U.K until now. Such a proud moment to attend such a reception after 25 years….
We wish Ichiba all the very best successes and very happy customers for many years to come!
Here are some extracts from Ichiba’s story:
Japan Centre Ichiba is the first joint venture between the Japan Centre Group (the team behind iconic brands Japan Centre, Shoryu Ramen and Sakagura) and Cool Japan Fund, a public-private fund, part owned by the Japanese government which helps support businesses to promote Japanese products, food and culture overseas. The fund’s partnerships with local and artisan suppliers across Japan will allow Japan Centre Ichiba to offer authentic products and rare regional produce from some of the best producers and farmers exclusively to the UK. Alongside partners, Kikkoman and Gekkeikan, well known Japanese brands of soy sauce and sake, Japan Centre Ichiba will be a destination where you can truly taste Japan.
Japan Centre Ichiba aims to bring the best artisanal food, drink, homewares and gifts from Japan to London. Our partnership with Cool Japan Fund means Japan Centre Ichiba showcases exclusive products from local and artisan suppliers from all over Japan. Our theatrical kitchens dotted around Japan Centre Ichiba allow you to peek behind the scenes and see how our authentic Japanese food is created. You can also learn more at our cooking demonstrations and workshops, events, regional food and drink festivals and sake tasting seminars.
Japan Centre Ichiba is the first joint venture between the Japan Centre Group (the team behind iconic brands Japan Centre, Shoryu Ramen and Sakagura) and Cool Japan Fund, a public-private fund, part owned by the Japanese government which helps support businesses to promote Japanese products, food and culture overseas. The fund’s partnerships with local and artisan suppliers across Japan will allow Japan Centre Ichiba to offer authentic products and rare regional produce from some of the best producers and farmers exclusively to the UK. Alongside partners, Kikkoman and Gekkeikan, well known Japanese brands of soy sauce and sake, Japan Centre Ichiba will be a destination where you can truly taste Japan.
Japan Centre Ichiba aims to bring the best artisanal food, drink, homewares and gifts from Japan to London. Our partnership with Cool Japan Fund means Japan Centre Ichiba showcases exclusive products from local and artisan suppliers from all over Japan. Our theatrical kitchens dotted around Japan Centre Ichiba allow you to peek behind the scenes and see how our authentic Japanese food is created. You can also learn more at our cooking demonstrations and workshops, events, regional food and drink festivals and sake tasting seminars.
Tak Tokumine founded Japan Centre Group in 1976 in London with a desire to bring the best authentic food, drinks, books and homewares from Japan to the UK. Today Japan Centre Group has the much beloved Japan Centre, with an online shop, Shoryu Ramen a 12 branch strong ramen restaurant and Sakagura the Mayfair based steak kitchen and sake bar.
She has been working with sake for nearly 15 years and is a Kikisakeshi-qualified sake sommelier, WSET-certified educator and an International Wine Challenge(IWC) Panel Judge in the sake category.
Having trained at Leith’s School of Food & Wine and Le Cordon Bleu, Honami is a qualified sommelier and has worked at some of London’s world-renowned restaurants, including Le Gavroche, as well as luxury wine and spirits merchant Hedonism Wines.
