Sakura Spritz

Sparkling sake and cherry blossom liqueur — hanami documented from the 8th-century imperial court at Nara, the Italian Spritz format meeting Japanese spring.

The sakura — cherry blossom — is Japan's most celebrated symbol of seasonal renewal, associated with the ancient tradition of hanami (flower viewing), in which Japanese families and friends gather beneath blooming cherry trees to eat, drink, and celebrate spring. Cherry blossom viewing parties have been documented in Japanese literature since at least the 8th century AD, when the imperial court held elaborate hanami events at Nara. The Sakura Spritz is a modern cocktail inspired by this tradition, combining sake or cherry blossom-infused liqueur with sparkling wine in a format borrowed from the Italian aperitivo tradition. The Italian Spritz — Aperol or Campari, prosecco, and soda — became an international sensation during the 2010s, inspiring bartenders globally to create regional variations using local ingredients. The Sakura Spritz represents this cross-cultural fusion, bringing Japanese seasonal aesthetics into the Italian bubbly format.