Author Signing: Yoko Kumano and Kayoko Akabori, Everyday Sake

We are excited to welcome Oakland's Umami Mart founders Yoko Kumano and Kayoko Akabori to the shop for a book signing for their book Everyday Sake on Monday, July 20th from 12-1PM! Yoko and Kayoko will be signing and personalizing copies of Everyday Sake. You can pre-order books below to pick up on the day, or just come on by and say hi to Yoko and Kayoko while you shop! This is a free event, but an RSVP is required HERE or through the above button link.

Please note that this is a book signing, not an author talk!

Order for shipping or in-store pickup:

Everyday Sake : The Go-To Guide for Choosing, Pairing, and Serving

About the book: Sake is more than just a drink for sushi night—it’s aromatic, food-friendly, and endlessly drinkable. Whether you're pairing it with pizza, roast chicken, or pasta Bolognese, sake brings unexpected joy to any table.

Everyday Sake makes this iconic Japanese beverage simple, delicious, and fun. Yoko Kumano and Kayoko Akabori—founders of Oakland’s Umami Mart—have spent over a decade selling, sipping, and teaching all things sake. They’ve answered every real-life question—Can I use a wine glass? Is hot sake a crime? Does it go with cheese? How long does an open bottle last?—and now they’ve distilled their real-world expertise in this approachable, illustrated guide.

Inside, you’ll find everything you need to drink with confidence: how to taste and talk about sake, read bottle labels and navigate menus, and perfectly pair sake with your favorite meals. Packed with expert insights, practical tips, and joyful illustrations, this book is your go-to companion for discovering the joy of sake—any night of the week.

About the authors: Yoko Kumano and Kayoko Akabori are the founders of Umami Mart, a Japanese drinks store in Oakland, California. Childhood friends from Cupertino, they started a food blog called Umami Mart in 2007 as a way to stay in touch (and deflect boredom) from their cubicle jobs in Tokyo and New York. After moving back to the Bay Area, they opened their shop in downtown Oakland in 2012. Umami Mart started as a barware and kitchen tools store before expanding to sake and spirits, and it now focuses on sake education through classes and a monthly club. The shop has been featured in the New York Times, Wirecutter, New York Magazine, and the owners are frequent guests on various drinks podcasts.