2015 J-POP SUMMIT CELEBRATES JAPANESE GREEN TEA – MATCHA –WITH A SPECIAL FREE

MATCHA SUMMIT EVENT IN UNION SQUARE

S.F.’s Annual Japanese Pop Culture Festival Hosts First-Ever

SAKE SUMMIT Celebrating Japan’s National Spirit With Special Japanese Tea Culture Attractions In Union Square - Sat. & Sun. August 8^th & 9^th

San Francisco, CA, July 30, 2015 – The 2015 J-POP SUMMIT, a Japanese pop culture event held annually in San Francisco, showcases the exotic and delectable world of Japanese green tea – Matcha – as part of this year’s extensive programming.

Presented within a special area adjacent to the SAKE SUMMIT, taking place in Union Square Park, the MATCHA SUMMIT will contain a specially curated collection of premiere retailers and manufacturers of Japanese matcha products, including tea and Japanese desserts. The MATCHA SUMMIT complements a tasty and informative array of events and attractions focused on essential components of Japanese cuisine such as Matcha, Sushi and Sake. Admission to the MATCHA SUMMIT is free. Tickets to SAKE SUMMIT are now available at sakesummit.com.

San Francisco’s inaugural SAKE & MATCHA SUMMITS celebrate Japan’s tea culture and national spirit and take place in the city’s downtown Union Square Park on the weekend of August 8^th and 9^th; the 2015 J-POP SUMMIT takes place Saturday and Sunday August 8^th & 9^th at the historic Fort Mason Center in San Francisco’s Marina district.

Organized by the J-POP SUMMIT Festival Committee and presented in partnership with a variety of leading Japanese and U.S. matcha tea companies, sake brands, brewers, distributors, and retailers, the 2015 SAKE SUMMIT & MATCHA SUMMIT in UNION SQUARE will feature multiple tasting booths. Inside the MATCHA SUMMIT area, attendees can enjoy an assortment of Japanese matcha and tea-related products. Taste authentic matcha, made with finely ground tea powder and served as the focal point of the Japanese tea ceremony, Sen-cha (green tea), Houji-cha (roasted tea), and all kinds of flavored tea will be available to sample and purchase. A selection of sweet treats and snacks with matcha flavors invented by long-established Japanese sweets brands will also be offered. In addition, there will be demonstrations of traditional tea ceremonies from the Urasenke and Omotesenke schools of tea ceremonies.

SAKE SUMMIT attendees can try a wide range of premium Japanese sake and learn how to enjoy them with food-pairings. In addition to tasting, attendees can purchase select brands of sake on-site. There will also be live Japanese traditional music entertainment, Japanese food vendors, and Japanese Matcha (green tea) exhibitors. Additional information is available at: www.sakesummit.com.

Admission to the MATCHA SUMMIT is free. Tickets to the 2015 SAKE SUMMIT UNION SQUARE are on-sale now at: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/1431523; advance tickets (until 8/7) are $30.00; tickets purchased on-site the day of the event will be $35.00 each.

Participating MATCHA SUMMIT companies & organizations include:

ITO EN

The popular ITO EN-produced matcha specialty store “MATCHA LOVE,” which can be found in the San Jose Mitsuwa Market, comes to Union Square for MATCH SUMMIT. The store will sell a variety of matcha-inspired drinks and soft serve desserts normally only carried at the retail store.

Additional information on ITO EN is available at: http://www.itoen.com/matcha_love

Lupicia

Lupicia, a Bay Area staple with locations in Bloomingdale’s in downtown San Francisco and at the Mitsuwa Market in San Jose, comes to the J-POP SUMMIT for the first time this year. The retailer stocks teas from all over the world, including seasonal black and green tea, oolong tea, original blend tea, and flavored teas. At the MATCHA SUMMIT, Lupicia will have 4 types of green tea, 4 varieties of green tea based flavored teas, and 2 types of matcha. There will be lots of samples available. Additional information on Lupicia is available at: http://www.lupicia.com

Minamoto Kitchoan

Minamoto Kitchoan carries a wide variety of Wagashi, Japanese sweets. International branches are spread over 7 different countries and proudly serve mochi (rice cake), manju (bean cake), jelly and more. Delight in the finest ingredients available including seasonal fruit, teas and nuts. Pair each flavor and variety with a cup of Green tea for an unforgettable experience. Inside each beautifully wrapped Wagashi item lies the warm heart of Japanese culture. Minamoto Kitchoan will be offering a variety of matcha sweets, as well as sweets that go perfectly with tea. Additional information on Minamoto Kitchoan is available at: http://www.kitchoan.com/

Omotesenke Domonkai Northern California Region

Since Omotesenke Domonkai Northern California Region was founded in 1969, it has been practicing Omotesenke tea ceremony by Rikyu. Now it has two hundred and thirty members in Northern California including twenty eight instructors who are officially certified by omotesenke Domonkai in Kyoto, Japan. It also hosts an annual Summer seminar for three days in August, overseen by two instructors from Kyoto.

The Urasenke Foundation, San Francisco

The Urasenke Foundation, San Francisco Center represents the 400 year-old Urasenke Tradition of Tea in the United States. The non-profit foundation is devoted to public service educational programs on chanoyu (the tradition of preparing, serving, and drinking powdered green tea) and Japanese culture. The Foundation offers opportunities to learn more about chanoyu and Japanese culture through direct participation in tea gatherings, lectures, workshops, and other events. The Foundation also serves as a resource center for local and visiting scholars and offers introductory through advanced instruction in chanoyu.

Tickets and V.I.P Passes to the 2015 J-POP SUMMIT are available now at: www.J-POP.com. Over the weekend, J-POP SUMMIT attendees at Fort Mason can enjoy a colorful assortment of Japanese pop-influenced culture, fashion, pop art, live music, technology and travel that will be complemented by celebrity Guests of Honor, anime programming, cosplay and pop idol contests, and a wide assortment of vendors and other programming.

About J-POP SUMMIT

The J-POP SUMMIT is an annual Japanese Pop Culture celebration held in San Francisco, CA that features live bands and artists from Japan, pop culture panel discussions, film premieres, fashion shows and events, food and beverages, art, and celebrity appearances. In 2014, the two-day event attracted 125,000 attendees.

Details on the J-POP SUMMIT are available at www.J-POP.com.