November 9, 2018
Office of Analysis and Brewing Technology
Sendai Regional Taxation Bureau
(1) About the Tohoku Sake Awards
The Tohoku Sake Awards (Tohoku Seishu Kanpyokai) are held annually in the autumn under the auspices of the Sendai Regional Taxation Bureau. The purpose of this competition is to raise the technical level of sake brewers in the Tohoku region (i.e., Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Akita, Yamagata, and Fukushima prefectures), thereby contributing to the sound development of the sake brewing industry in Japan.
The sake brewers of the Tohoku region are well renowned for their first-class brewing technique. Using top-quality rice, they use all their skills and effort to produce the best sake possible.
Sakes submitted to the Tohoku Sake Awards are brewed in the previous winter and left to mature for about six months. After a stringent process including careful examination by a jury of experts, sakes of only the most prominent quality are selected. Prizes are given to the winning brewers at the awards ceremony.
(2) Review of 2018
In 2018, 146 breweries submitted a total of 388 sakes to two categories; ginjo-shu and junmai-shu. The quality examinations were held in October, with 68 of the participating breweries aiming to win prizes. Certificates were then granted to the prizewinners of each category at the awards ceremony held on November 9, by the commissioner of the Sendai Regional Taxation Bureau.
The Great East Japan Earthquake struck the Tohoku region in March 2011, and as a result many breweries suffered severe damage. However, sakes submitted to the Tohoku Sake Awards exhibited superb quality, supported by the brewing techniques found at Japan’s topmost level. This fact indicates that the breweries of the Tohoku region have already taken a great step toward recovery, with their strong unyielding will.
(1) Qualification for entry
Licensed sake breweries located within the jurisdiction of the Sendai Regional Taxation Bureau (i.e., Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Akita, Yamagata, and Fukushima prefectures)
(2) Eligible sakes
Sakes from the below-mentioned categories that were brewed at the entrant’s own production site between July 2017 and June 2018
(3) Categories
Ginjo-shu and Junmai-shu, as stipulated in the “Labeling Standard for the Manufacturing Process and Quality of Sake” (NTA notice #8 in 1989)
(4) Number of entries permitted
Each licensed sake brewery can submit up to three entries in total for the two categories. However, the number of entries for one category cannot be more than two.
(1) Schedule
(2) Process
The jurors assess the quality of each sample by sensory evaluation. All examinations are blind and administered by category. In the preliminary examinations, each sample is scrutinized for distinct attributes of aroma, taste, and appearance, to clarify a sensory profile. The samples are also given scores based on their overall quality. After this preliminary process, the highest scoring entries, which represent approximately half of the total entries, are selected for the final examination. In the final examination, the chosen sakes are once again judged and subsequently ranked by their overall quality. The award winners are determined based on their final rankings.
(3) Evaluation policy
Overall quality is determined based on the following style-based categories:
(4) Jury
Jurors were selected from a pool of experts, including:
List of Jurors 2018
Name | Affiliations | Participating Examinations |
---|---|---|
KATSUMI HASHIDUME | DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL RESOURCE SCIENCE,AKITA PREFECTURAL UNIVERSITY | GF, JF |
TOMOAKI SAITO | AOMORI PREFECTURAL INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH CENTER,HIROSAKI INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE | GF, JF |
AKIRA OGURA | AOMORI PREFECTURAL INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH CENTER,HIROSAKI INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE | GP, JP |
KENICHI NAGANE | MOMOKAWA BREWING,INC. | JP |
TAKUMI SATO | HATOMASAMUNE CORPORATION | GP |
KAORU ADACHI | NISHIDASYUZOUTEN CO.,LTD. | GF, JF |
NARUHIDE SATO | IWATE INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE | JP |
SHIGEKI NAKAYAMA | IWATE INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE | GP |
YUICHI YONEKURA | IWATE INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE | GF, JF |
HIROMI ONO | HIDETOSHI HIROTA | JP |
MASAYUKI NISHIDATE | KIKUNOTSUKASA SAKE BREWING CO.,LTD | GP |
MAKOTO TAKAHASHI | RYOJI TAKAHASHI | GF, JF |
KENYA HASHIMOTO | INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE, | JP |
MIYAGI PREFECTURAL GOVERNMENT | ||
JUNICHI ISHIKAWA | INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE, | GP |
MIYAGI PREFECTURAL GOVERNMENT | ||
KENJI ITO | MIYAGI SAKE AND SHOCHU MAKERS ASSOCIATION | GF, JF |
KAICHIRO SAITO | KAKUBOSHI CO.,LTD. | JP |
TOSHIAKI HIRATSUKA | ABEKAN SAKE BREWERY CO.,LTD. | GP |
TAKAHIRO HIRAI | HIRAKOU CORPORATION | GF, JF |
TSUYOSHI OHNO | AKITA RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FOOD AND BREWING | JP |
SHO SHINDO | AKITA RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FOOD AND BREWING | GP |
SEIEI WATANABE | AKITA RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FOOD AND BREWING | GF, JF |
GEN KODATE | AKITA SHUZO CO.,LTD | JP |
JISHU SATO | KIMURA BREWERY INC. | GP |
NAOAKI KURIBAYASHI | KURIBAYASHI BREWING&CO. | GF, JF |
SHINPEI KUDOH | YAMAGATA RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | GP, JP |
HIROYOSHI ISHIGAKI | YAMAGATA RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | GF, JF |
AKITSUNA TAKAGI | TAKAGISHUZO CO.,LTD. | JP |
MASASHI JIN | AZUMANOFUMOTO LIMITED COMPANY | GP |
TOSHIHITO WATARAI | WATARAI SAKE BREWING CO.,LTD. | GF, JF |
NATSUKO NAKAJIMA | AIZUWAKAMATSU TECHNICAL SUPPORT CENTRE | JP |
FUKUSHIMA TECHNOLOGY CENTRE | ||
NOBUHIRO KIKUCHI | AIZUWAKAMATSU TECHNICAL SUPPORT CENTRE | GP |
FUKUSHIMA TECHNOLOGY CENTRE | ||
KENJI SUZUKI | AIZUWAKAMATSU TECHNICAL SUPPORT CENTRE | GF, JF |
FUKUSHIMA TECHNOLOGY CENTRE | ||
YUJIRO ARIGA | ARIGA JOZO LIMITED PARTNERSHIP | JP |
EIICHI SHIRAI | SHIRAISHUZOTEN LIMITED PARTNERSHIP | GP |
HIROYUKI MATSUZAKI | MATSUZAKI SAKE BREWING CO.,LTD. | GF, JF |
JOHN GAUNTNER | SAKE WORLD,INC. | GF, JF |
PHILIP HARPER | THE KINOSHITA BREWERY | GF, JF |
YUICHI YOSHIDA | NATIONAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF BREWING | GF, JF |
KENTARO ISHIDA | OFFICE OF ANALYSIS AND BREWING TECHNOLOGY, | GP, JP, GF, JF |
SENDAI REGIONAL TAXATION BUREAU | ||
TAKAYUKI EMURA | OFFICE OF ANALYSIS AND BREWING TECHNOLOGY, | GP, JP, GF, JF |
SENDAI REGIONAL TAXATION BUREAU | ||
TAKEHIRO AKUTSU | OFFICE OF ANALYSIS AND BREWING TECHNOLOGY, | GP, JP, GF, JF |
SENDAI REGIONAL TAXATION BUREAU | ||
MASAKI NOSE | OFFICE OF ANALYSIS AND BREWING TECHNOLOGY, | GP, JP, GF, JF |
SENDAI REGIONAL TAXATION BUREAU | ||
KEITA YAMADA | OFFICE OF ANALYSIS AND BREWING TECHNOLOGY, | GP, JP, GF, JF |
SENDAI REGIONAL TAXATION BUREAU | ||
YUKI TAMURA | OFFICE OF ANALYSIS AND BREWING TECHNOLOGY, | GP, JP, GF, JF |
SENDAI REGIONAL TAXATION BUREAU |
Abbreviations: GP, Ginjo-shu preliminary ex.; JP, Junmai-shu preliminary ex.; GF, Ginjo-shu final ex.; JF, Junmai-shu final ex.
Entrants earning high scores in the final examination are awarded an honor prize. The number of recipients of this prize is limited, and only those placing in the top one-third of all entrants in each category are eligible. Among entrants receiving honor prizes, the “Grand Honor Prize” is awarded to those placing first in each category, and “Special Honor Prizes” are awarded to those placing second or third. Certificates are then granted to each of the prizewinners by the Commissioner of the Sendai Regional Taxation Bureau.
(1) Number of Entries
Prefecture | Ginjo-shu | Junmai-shu | Total |
---|---|---|---|
Aomori | 16 (9) | 11 (9) | 27 (9) |
Iwate | 26 (16) | 17 (14) | 43 (17) |
Miyagi | 35 (21) | 24 (19) | 59 (24) |
Akita | 42 (26) | 34 (24) | 76 (27) |
Yamagata | 60 (36) | 36 (30) | 96 (37) |
Fukushima | 52 (30) | 35 (27) | 87 (32) |
Total | 231 (138) | 157 (123) | 388 (146) |
Numbers in parentheses indicate the number of breweries
(Previous Year)
Prefecture | Ginjo-shu | Junmai-shu | Total |
---|---|---|---|
Aomori | 18 (9) | 9 (9) | 27 (9) |
Iwate | 29 (15) | 15 (15) | 44 (16) |
Miyagi | 44 (23) | 17 (17) | 61 (23) |
Akita | 50 (25) | 23 (23) | 73 (26) |
Yamagata | 66 (34) | 33 (33) | 99 (35) |
Fukushima | 51 (27) | 30 (30) | 81 (34) |
Total | 258 (133) | 127 (127) | 385 (143) |
Numbers in parentheses indicate the number of breweries
(2) Number of Prizewinners (including Grand Honor, Special Honor and Honor Prizes)
Prefecture | Ginjo-shu | Junmai-shu | Total |
---|---|---|---|
Aomori | 5 (3) | 3 (3) | 8 (4) |
Iwate | 5 (3) | 4 (3) | 9 (4) |
Miyagi | 9 (8) | 7 (6) | 16 (13) |
Akita | 10 (7) | 11 (10) | 21 (12) |
Yamagata | 16 (11) | 5 (5) | 21 (13) |
Fukushima | 21 (17) | 19 (15) | 40 (22) |
Total | 66 (49) | 49 (42) | 115 (68) |
Numbers in parentheses indicate the number of breweries
(Previous Year)
Prefecture | Ginjo-shu | Junmai-shu | Total |
---|---|---|---|
Aomori | 5 (3) | 3 (3) | 8 (3) |
Iwate | 8 (6) | 6 (6) | 14 (7) |
Miyagi | 9 (6) | 7 (7) | 16 (11) |
Akita | 15 (10) | 14 (14) | 29 (17) |
Yamagata | 10 (8) | 8 (8) | 18 (12) |
Fukushima | 14 (12) | 11 (11) | 25 (15) |
Total | 61 (45) | 49 (49) | 110 (65) |
Numbers in parentheses indicate the number of breweries
In regard only to entrants awarded with the “Grand Honor Prize” or the “Special Honor Prizes”, tasting notes by two foreign jurors are published.
a. Grand Honor Prize
Prefecture | Brewery | JCN | Brand |
---|---|---|---|
Akita | KIMURA BREWERY INC. | JCN8410001010073 | FUKUKOMACHI |
Tasting notes by two foreign jurors | |||
|
b. Special Honor Prize
Prefecture | Brewery | JCN | Brand |
---|---|---|---|
Akita | AZAKURASHUZO CO., LTD. | JCN1410001008768 | AZAKURA |
Tasting notes by two foreign jurors | |||
|
Prefecture | Brewery | JCN | Brand |
---|---|---|---|
Akita | SAIYASHUZOTEN CO., LTD. | JCN6410001004787 | YUKINOBOUSHA KACHOUGESSEKI |
Tasting notes by two foreign jurors | |||
|
c. Honor Prize
Prefecture | Brewery | JCN | Brand |
---|---|---|---|
Aomori | NISHIDASHUZOTEN CO., LTD. | JCN9420001001673 | KINKAN KIKUIZUMI |
Aomori | HACHINOHESHURUI CORPORATION GONOHEKOUJOU | JCN8420001006418 | JYOKU |
Aomori | MOMOKAWA BREWING, INC. | JCN6420001012244 | MOMOKAWA |
Iwate | ASABIRAKI CO., LTD. | JCN8400001000067 | ASABIRAKI |
Iwate | HAMACHIDORI CO., LTD. | JCN4400001007322 | HAMACHIDORI |
Iwate | NANBUBIJIN | JCN8400001007847 | NANBUBIJIN |
BASENKYOUKURA CO., LTD. | |||
Miyagi | UCHIGASAKI BREWING CO. | JCN3370003001278 | HOYO |
Miyagi | SAURA COMPANY, LIMITED YAMOTOGURA | JCN5370601000266 | URAKASUMI |
Miyagi | HIRAKOUSHUZO CORPORATION | JCN6370301001456 | HITAKAMI |
Miyagi | SAURA COMPANY, LIMITED | JCN5370601000266 | URAKASUMI |
Miyagi | GENERAL PARTNERSHIP KAWAKEI SHOTEN | JCN5370203000219 | KOGANESAWA |
Miyagi | NAKAYUSHUZOTEN CORPORATION | JCN6370201002364 | TENJOMUGEN |
Miyagi | ZAOSHUZO CO., LTD. | JCN8370101001308 | ZAO |
Miyagi | CHIDASHUZO CORPORATION | JCN8370201003071 | KURIKOMAYAMA |
Akita | AKITA SHURUI SEIZOH CO., LTD. GOSHONOGURA | JCN8410001000388 | TAKASHIMIZU |
Akita | ARAMASA SHUZO CO., LTD. | JCN8410001000157 | ARAMASA |
Akita | TENJUSHUZO CO., LTD. | JCN3410001005235 | TENJU |
Akita | AKITA MEIJYO COMPANY LIMITED | JCN5410001005431 | RANMAN |
Yamagata | KOTOBUKITORAYASHUZO CORPORATION | JCN1390001000587 | JUKYUGURA |
Yamagata | DEWAZAKURA SAKE BREWERY CO., LTD. | JCN5390001004452 | DEWAZAKURA |
Yamagata | DEWAZAKURA SAKE BREWERY CO., LTD. YAMAGATAGURA | JCN5390001004452 | DEWAZAKURA |
Yamagata | KOIKAWASHUZO CO., LTD. | JCN1390001006816 | KOIKAWA |
Yamagata | TAKENO TSUYU SAKAGURA CO., LTD. | JCN8390003000538 | HAKURO SUISHU |
Yamagata | FUJISHUZO CO., LTD. | JCN8390001007782 | EIKO FUJI |
Yamagata | SAKATA SHUZO CO., LTD. | JCN5390001006226 | JYOKIGEN |
Yamagata | SUGIISAMIWARABIOKA BREWERY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP | JCN7390003000456 | SUGIISAMI |
Yamagata | MATSUYAMASHUZOU CO., LTD. | JCN8390001007254 | MATSUMINE NO FUJI |
Yamagata | TAKAGISHUZO CO., LTD. | JCN4390001009320 | JUYONDAI |
Yamagata | ROKKASENSHUZO PRODUCTIVITY IMPROVEMENT COOPERATIVE | JCN7390005005619 | TEMAHIMA |
Fukushima | KINSUISHO SAKE BREWERY CO., LTD. | JCN4380002000997 | KINSUISHO |
Fukushima | EISEN SHUZO CO., LTD. | JCN6380001017280 | EISHIRO |
Fukushima | SUEHIRO SAKE BREWERY CO., LTD. HAKASEKURA | JCN2380001017549 | GENSAI |
Fukushima | TATSUIZUMISHUZO LIMITED PARTNERSHIP | JCN9380003001775 | KYONOHANA |
Fukushima | TSURUNOESYUZO CO., LTD. | JCN7380001017619 | AIZUCHUJO |
Fukushima | TOYOKUNI SHUZO LIMITED PARTNERSHIP | JCN4380003001862 | GAKUJURO |
Fukushima | NAGURAYAMA SAKE BREWERY CO., LTD. | JCN6380001017685 | NAGURAYAMA |
Fukushima | MIYAIZUMI CO., LTD. | JCN1380001017896 | MIYAIZUMI |
Fukushima | SATOUSYUZOU CO., LTD. | JCN4380001007977 | MIHARUKOMA |
Fukushima | TOYOKUNI SHUZO LIMITED PARTNERSHIP | JCN3380003000799 | AZUMA TOYOKUNI |
Fukushima | SASAMASAMUNESHUZO CORPORATION | JCN4380001018636 | SASAMASAMUNE |
Fukushima | YOSHINOGAWASHUZOUTEN LIMITED PARTNERSHIP | JCN8380003001941 | AIZU YOSHINOGAWA |
Fukushima | NINKISHUZO CO., LTD. | JCN1380001009951 | NINKIICHI |
Fukushima | HIGASHINIHONSHUZO PRODUCTIVITY IMPROVEMENT COOPERATIVE | JCN1380005003942 | OKUNOMATSU |
Fukushima | AIZUSHUZO CO., LTD. | JCN4380001019114 | TAJIMA |
Fukushima | KOKKENSHUZO CO., LTD. | JCN5380001019146 | KOKKEN |
Fukushima | WATANABE KENICHI | KAITO OTOKOYAMA |
JCN indicates Japan Corporate Number
a. Grand Honor Prize
Prefecture | Brewery | JCN | Brand |
---|---|---|---|
Fukushima | TSURUNOESYUZO CO., LTD. | JCN7380001017619 | AIZUCHUJO |
Tasting notes by two foreign jurors | |||
|
b. Special Honor Prize
Prefecture | Brewery | JCN | Brand |
---|---|---|---|
Iwate | ASABIRAKI CO., LTD. | JCN8400001000067 | ASABIRAKI |
Tasting notes by two foreign jurors | |||
|
Prefecture | Brewery | JCN | Brand |
---|---|---|---|
Akita | SAIYASHUZOTEN CO., LTD. | JCN6410001004787 | YUKINOBOUSHA CHOUSETSU |
Tasting notes by two foreign jurors | |||
|
c. Honor Prize
Prefecture | Brewery | JCN | Brand |
---|---|---|---|
Aomori | NISHIDASHUZOTEN CO., LTD. | JCN9420001001673 | KINKAN KIKUIZUMI |
Aomori | NARUMIJYOUZOUTEN CO., LTD. | JCN2420001009987 | INAMURAYABUNSHIROU |
Aomori | MOMOKAWA BREWING, INC. | JCN6420001012244 | MOMOKAWA |
Iwate | AKABU SHUZO CORPORATION | JCN5400001007445 | AKABU |
Iwate | HAMACHIDORI CO., LTD. | JCN4400001007322 | HAMACHIDORI |
Miyagi | SASAKISYUZOUTEN CO., LTD. | JCN6370802000270 | HOUSEN NAMINOOTO |
Miyagi | SAURA COMPANY, LIMITED | JCN5370601000266 | URAKASUMI |
Miyagi | ICHINOKURA CORPORATION HONSHAKURA | JCN4370201000031 | ICHINOKURA HONSHAKURA |
Miyagi | YAMAWASHUZO CO., LTD. | JCN2370201002401 | WASHIGAKUNI GETSURIN MEISOUSUI |
Miyagi | KANENOISHUZOU CO., LTD. | JCN9370201003145 | WATAYA |
Miyagi | HAGINOSHUZO COMPANY, LIMITED | JCN7370201003139 | HAGINOTSURU |
Akita | AKITASHUZO CO., LTD. | JCN2410001001020 | SUIRAKUTEN |
Akita | AKITA SHURUI SEIZOH CO., LTD. GOSHONOGURA | JCN8410001000388 | TAKASHIMIZU |
Akita | ARAMASA SHUZO CO., LTD. | JCN8410001000157 | ARAMASA |
Akita | FUKUROKUJUSHUZO CORPORATION | JCN7410001003499 | IPPAKUSUISEI |
Akita | ASAMAISYUZO CO., LTD. | JCN3410001008956 | AMANOTO |
Akita | TENJUSHUZO CO., LTD. | JCN3410001005235 | TENJU |
Akita | HIRAIZUMIHONPO CORPORATION | JCN8410001005189 | HIRAIZUMI |
Akita | KIMURA BREWERY INC. | JCN8410001010073 | FUKUKOMACHI |
Akita | KARIHOSHUZO CO., LTD. | JCN9410001007903 | KARIHO |
Yamagata | KOJIMASOHONTEN CO., LTD. | JCN1390001009851 | TOKO |
Yamagata | YONETSURUSHUZO CO., LTD. | JCN8390001010456 | YONETSURU |
Yamagata | KOIKAWASHUZO CO., LTD. | JCN1390001006816 | BEPPIN |
Yamagata | FUJISHUZO CO., LTD. | JCN8390001007782 | EIKO FUJI |
Yamagata | TAKAGISHUZO CO., LTD. | JCN4390001009320 | JUYONDAI |
Fukushima | EISEN SHUZO CO., LTD. | JCN6380001017280 | EISEN |
Fukushima | SUEHIRO SAKE BREWERY CO., LTD. KAEIKURA | JCN2380001017549 | SUEHIRO KAEIKURA |
Fukushima | SUEHIRO SAKE BREWERY CO., LTD. HAKASEKURA | JCN2380001017549 | GENSAI |
Fukushima | TOYOKUNI SHUZO LIMITED PARTNERSHIP | JCN4380003001862 | MEOTOSAKURA |
Fukushima | SATOUSYUZOU CO., LTD. | JCN4380001007977 | MIHARUKOMA |
Fukushima | SATOUSYUZOUTEN CORPORATION | JCN7380002009846 | FUJINOI |
Fukushima | WATANABE SHUZOHONTEN CO., LTD. | JCN4380002013173 | YUKIKOMACHI |
Fukushima | TOYOKUNI SHUZO LIMITED PARTNERSHIP | JCN3380003000799 | CHOH |
Fukushima | MATSUZAKI SAKE BREWING CO.,LTD. | JCN8380001029290 | HIROTOGAWA |
Fukushima | YAMATOGAWA SHUZOTEN LIMITED PARTNERSHIP | JCN5380003001936 | YAUEMON |
Fukushima | YOSHINOGAWASHUZOUTEN LIMITED PARTNERSHIP | JCN8380003001941 | AIZU YOSHINOGAWA |
Fukushima | HIGASHINIHONSHUZO PRODUCTIVITY IMPROVEMENT COOPERATIVE | JCN1380005003942 | OKUNOMATSU |
Fukushima | AIZUSHUZO CO., LTD. | JCN4380001019114 | AIZU |
Fukushima | KOKKENSHUZO CO., LTD. | JCN5380001019146 | KOKKEN |
JCN indicates Japan Corporate Number