Kanpai! | The Spirit of Japan Screening and Director Q&A

Presented by the Embassy of Japan

We are excited to announce our new event series, Kanpai! 🥂

In Japan you say Kanpai when celebrating or making a toast, like the English word cheers. So, join us as we say Kanpai and celebrate the history and culture of different alcohols in Japan.

Shochu, a traditional Japanese spirit made from ingredients such as rice, barley, and sweet potatoes. Shochu is delicious and its production has a rich history in Japan. Shochu is a drink that is not brewed, like Sake, but rather is a result of a distillation process.

The documentary The Spirit of Japan captures not only the intricacies and everyday work of a distillery in Kagoshima but also of the WAKAMATSU family that runs it. Watch as WAKAMTSU Tekken, a fifth-generation toji (master brewer), inherits the distillery from his father and charts the future of the family's signature shochu. The film tells one Japanese family's story, but it taps into something universal: the pleasure of handmade things, the value of slowing down, and the sharing of tradition and spirit that connects people across generations and cultures.

Join us for this special screening and Q&A with director Joseph Overbey!

This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required for security purposes. Program begins at 7:00PM. Doors open 30 minutes prior. No admittance after 7:30 PM or once seating is full. Registered guests will be seated on a first come, first served basis. Please note that seating is limited and registration does not guarantee guests a seat.