Uma Musume Pretty Derby continues to expand its merchandise universe in ways no other franchise quite manages, this time entering the world of real alcoholic beverages. A collaboration between the mobile game and Japanese distillery Tentaka Shuzo has produced the “Tokai Teio Hachimii no Osake”, a honey sake inspired by the iconic drink of Tokai Teio — the “hachimii” — set for release on June 23.
What Exactly Is the “Tokai Teio Hachimii no Osake”?
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The product is an official collaboration between Uma Musume Pretty Derby and Tentaka Shuzo (天鷹酒造), a Japanese distillery known for its high-quality artisanal sake. The result is a mead, or honey sake, made with 100% Japanese honey and sake yeast, designed to capture the characteristic sweetness and fresh aroma that define the character of Tokai Teio within the game.
Bottled at 720ml with an alcohol content of 6%, the drink is accessible even to those who do not typically consume strong alcohol. It comes with exclusive original packaging that combines the image of Tokai Teio with the aesthetic of the “hachimii,” the character’s signature beverage within Uma Musume.
The official price is ¥5,390 yen (approximately $35 USD), and sales begin on Tuesday, June 23, at 3:00 PM Japan time through the official Tentaka Shuzo website.
What Is Mead and Why Is It the Perfect Choice for This Collaboration?
Mead, known in Japanese as “hachimitsu sake” or 蜂蜜酒, is one of the oldest alcoholic beverages in human history, predating both wine and beer. It appears in Norse mythology, medieval epic poems, and historical records across multiple cultures as the drink of gods and warriors.
In Japan, mead remains virtually unknown outside the most specialized enthusiast circles, which makes this collaboration a rare opportunity: it is not merely Uma Musume merchandise, but a gateway to a beverage with centuries of history that the majority of the Japanese fandom has never tasted.
The connection to Tokai Teio is not arbitrary either. The “hachimii,” a honey-based drink that the character consumes constantly in the game, plays a central role in the personality and iconography of the character. Translating that into a real-world beverage carries a narrative coherence that the fandom will immediately appreciate.
How to Drink It: All the Ways to Enjoy Tokai Teio Hachimii no Osake
According to the official recommendations from Tentaka Shuzo, the Tokai Teio Hachimii no Osake can be enjoyed in multiple ways:
- Very cold, straight from the refrigerator
- Warm, as a winter beverage
- Neat
- On the rocks
- Mixed with sparkling water
- Mixed with hot water
- Poured over vanilla ice cream
The last option, in particular, is likely to generate a wave of social media posts from the Uma Musume fandom, blending dessert culture with character-themed drinking.
Why This Collaboration Matters Beyond Merchandise
Uma Musume Pretty Derby has for years been one of the mobile games with the highest engagement and per-user spending in Japan, supported by an extraordinarily active and loyal fan community. Its merchandise collaborations routinely sell out within hours, and this product has all the elements to replicate that pattern: an iconic character name, a direct connection to the game’s narrative, a physical consumable product with its own history, and limited availability through a single channel.
For the international fandom following Uma Musume from outside Japan, this kind of release generates the highest engagement: something desirable, difficult to obtain outside Japan, and perfectly aligned with the character’s identity. The combination of limited distribution, narrative authenticity, and a genuinely niche product category positions this collaboration as a landmark moment in the franchise’s expanding merchandise strategy.
The choice of mead as the base beverage also signals a deeper editorial direction. Rather than licensing generic alcoholic products with character labels, Uma Musume and Tentaka Shuzo have created something that respects the source material’s internal logic while introducing fans to a drink style most would never encounter otherwise. That level of thoughtfulness is what separates memorable collaborations from forgettable ones.
With the June 23 release date approaching, collectors and fans alike will be watching closely — and preparing to click the moment sales go live at 3:00 PM Japan time. Given the track record of Uma Musume merchandise drops, early action is the only realistic strategy for securing a bottle.
