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The Japan Society of San Diego and Tijuana is celebrating their 2008 Beer and Sake Festival Wednesday July 16th, bringing you the cleanest and crispest flavor of Japanese and local beer and sake. From 6-9pm, lounge with class at the stunning and newly remodeled San Diego W Hotel and taste 30 artisan sakes as well authentic Asian infused delicacies.

JOTO SAKE, Takara Sake, Sapporo and Kirin Beer are but four names in a long list of Japanese companies represented at this celebration. Also, Jade Theater will be serving up beer cured pork leg and from Nobu, sawara with yellow tomato and ginger salsa are among the top class restaurants presenting at the festival.

The Japan Society is a non-profit membership organization dedicated to promoting goodwill and to advance business, educational, civic, and cultural interchange and understanding between the people of Japan, San Diego, and Tijuana. This tasty event's proceeds go to fund Japan Society's educational efforts. While this Beer and Sake Festival is focused on flavor, its influence will affect more than just your taste buds. From festivals to corporate programs, cultural seminars and library presentations, the time and money you spend here will reach beyond the border.

In order to understand the significance of this festival, it's important to look to our city's history.

The Japanese arrived in San Diego in the 1880s, calling themselves dekaseginin, a term used to describe someone who has left their hometown to seek employment. Men worked on the California Central Railroad or to work in the salt fields of the South Bay.

In ten years, 250 Japanese were working in San Diego County, a majority of them laboring in citrus groves and packing sheds in Lemon Grove, La Mesa, and Chula Vista. There were also cooks, gardeners, and handymen. Much of San Diego's commerce was due to the large number of Japanese laboring in the city. Fishermen began to arrive in San Diego in the early 1900s as well, creating a large market for tuna, bamboo, as well as long range refrigerated boats.

This is just one glimpse into a long and varied history of San Diego's Japanese American history, and we encourage you to continue to learn about your community. The Japan Society, as well as the Japanese American Historical Society of San Diego, are dedicated to preserving and celebrating Japanese culture in our region. Come taste what this Beer and Sake Festival is all about.

Tickets for members are $40; non-members, $50. For more information, visit japan-society.org.