FOR A TRULY UNIQUE EVENING, UPGRADE TO THE VIP EXPERIENCE

As a VIP your night begins before general admission arrives. Your special sake adventure includes free flowing ultra premium sake from Mutual Trading Co.’s top-shelf selection paired with an exclusive tasting menu from renowned fine dining chef Andy Nakano. The VIP experience has the makings of an exciting culinary fete.

For a quiet moment during the main festivities you will have exclusive access to the VIP area all evening. Have fun with old friends or make new ones and do it with style at this year’s VIP reception. To remember your VIP experience you will receive a special commemorative sake cup at the end of the evening.

VIP RECEPTION INCLUDES

- Exclusive welcome cocktail upon arrival

- Premium tastings of high quality artisan sake not available at main event

- One-of-a-kind hors d'oeuvres menu by Chef Andy Nakano, former owner of Jozu

- Sake sommelier on hand for one-on-one sake education

- Interactive sake flights with sake not yet available in the U.S.

- Attentive staff providing bottle service

- All night access to the VIP room

- Special commemorative sake cup

HONORING MUTUAL TRADING CO.

This year's Fu Re Ai Honoree is Mutual Trading Co., a distributor of Japanese goods to the U.S. They are honored for their tireless efforts in supporting the Little Tokyo Service Center.

MUTUAL TRADING COMPANY INC. is the premier Japanese food, alcohol beverage, and restaurant supply specialist.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

Vivienne Lee, Citi

Antonio Manning, Wamu

MISTRESS OF CEREMONIES

Cher Calvin, News Anchor on KTLA

Cher Calvin is a 10PM Prime News Weekend Anchor for KTLA.

Calvin is a 2005 Emmy Award recipient as part of KTLA Morning News Team.

SAKE SOMMELIERS

Melanie Chang, Certified Wine and Sake Sommelier, Member of the Society of Wine Educators

In 2006, Melanie began her formal wine education at the Culinary Institute of America, Greystone in St. Helena CA. She continued with the Wine and Spirits Educational Trust (WSET) to complete the Advanced Certification with Master Sommelier Peter Neptune in 2008. Currently, she is preparing for the advanced level exams with the Court of Masters Sommeliers.

For Sake, she traveled to Japan to study with John Gauntner, the world’s leading non-Japanese Sake expert. In Osaka, she interned alongside Master Toji Yasutaka Daimon as a member of the first international sake brewing program. Recently, she earned the Sake Advanced Specialist at the Japan Sake Brewers Association in Tokyo.

Melanie is currently working on opening a wine and sake specialty shop in Newport Beach, CA. Operating with a mission to elevate the public’s understanding and appreciation of Sake to the level of wine, she especially enjoys bringing regional highlights and cultures from around the globe. Melanie is a native Angelina currently residing in Orange County.

Toshio Ueno, Certified Sake, Shochu and Wine Sommelier

Born in Yamanashi Prefecture in Japan where his family has grown wine grapes for generations, Toshio grew up helping the business from a young age. Following his college education in the US and employment at an international trading company in Tokyo, Toshio joined Châteraisé, a pastry and wine company as Director of Sales. There, he was put in charge of overseeing the personal wine collection of the company’s president, which intrigued him to enter the world of wine stewardship and research.

Toshio joined Mutual Trading Company in 2002, where he is Manger of the Business Development Department in marketing Japanese foods, Jizake, and Shochu to the mainstream American trade. In early 2009 he was certified by John Gauntner as a Sake Advanced Specialist, and later expanded knowledge to earn a Shochu Advisor status.

For Wine, after earning the IWG Wine Sommelier Certification in 2008, he is currently broadening his knowledge base by enrolling with WSET to prepare for the Advance Certification. With his passion and expertise in Jizake, Shochu, and Wine, Toshio aims to further promote Japanese food and Sake cultures to new, international audiences.