Asena at Kumiko Festival

In May, a four-day cultural exchange event, the Sakura Festival, was held at CVK Bosphorus Hotel in Istanbul, offering a rich and multi-dimensional exploration of Japanese culture.

One of the program’s most meaningful highlights was the Nanban Chef’s Table, led by Japanese Cuisine Goodwill Ambassador and silver medal owner 🇯🇵 chef Sinan Damgacıoğlu.

This session offered guests a deep dive into the transformation of Japanese cuisine under Western influence from the 16th century to today — blending historical insight with refined execution.

🍶 Sake & Wine Terroir Tasting with Levon Bağış

 Led by Levon Bağış, one of Turkey’s most respected wine experts, this tasting explored the parallels and distinctions between Japanese sake and European wines — from production techniques to aroma profiles and serving culture.

Alongside the discussion, we had the honor of introducing two signature sake labels under our brand Asena International:

 – our own Kaori Ranman (Junmai Ginjo, Limited Edition)

 – and Takumi Daiginjo, imported from Kyoto.

As the sake sponsor for the entire festival, receiving such enthusiastic feedback from guests reaffirmed the importance of what we’re building in this market. The festival was further enriched by Taiko drum performances and a Japanese tea ceremony.

このフェスティバルが毎年継続し、文化の架け橋になることを願っています。

 We look forward to continuing this cultural bridge every year.