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5. 報道発表資料
6. Tohoku Sake Awards 2013

November 14, 2013
Office of Analysis and Brewing Technology
Sendai Regional Taxation Bureau

• 1　Outline
• 2　Entry
• 3　Quality Examinations
• 4　Awards
• 5　Statistics
• 6　List of Prize Winners
  • （1）　Ginjo-shu Category
  • （2）　Junmai-shu Category

1. Outline

(1) About the Tohoku Sake Awards
The Tohoku Sake Awards (Tohoku Seishu Kanpyokai) are held annually during the autumn under the auspices of the Sendai Regional Taxation Bureau. The purpose of this competition is to raise the technical level of sake manufacturers 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 dedicate the entirety of both their skill and effort to produce the “best sake” possible.
Sakes submitted to the Tohoku Sake Awards comprise those brewed during 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 awarded to the winning manufacturers at the commendation ceremony.

(2) Review of 2013
In 2013, a total of 401 sakes were submitted by 149 breweries and categorized based on style as either Ginjo-shu or Junmai-shu. The preliminary quality examinations were held on October 7–9, and the final quality examination was held on October 11, with 68 of the participating breweries winning prizes. Certificates were then granted to the prize winners of each category at a commendation ceremony held on November 14 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, the disaster appeared to have had no detrimental effect on the breweries, as this years’ entries showcased superb quality that was equal to or even better than that in previous competitions. This is primarily due to the sake brewers’ unyielding will to improve their technique, even in the midst of unprecedented calamity.

2. Entry

(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 of the below-mentioned two categories that were brewed at the entrant’s own production site between July 2012 and June 2013

(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) Maximum number of entries
Two Ginjo-shu and one Junmai-shu entry per licensed sake brewery

3. Quality Examinations

(1) Schedule
-Preliminary examination: October 7–9, 2013
-Final examination: October 11, 2013

(2) Process
The juries assess the quality of each sample by sensory evaluation. All examinations are blinded and administered by category. During 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. During the final examination, the remaining sakes are once again judged and subsequently ranked by their overall quality. The award winners are finally determined based on the final rankings.

(3) Evaluation policy
Overall quality is determined based on the following style-based categories:
- Ginjo-shu: well-balanced flavor, characteristic aroma, and delicate taste
- Junmai-shu: refined flavor with umami (savoriness) and round texture

(4) Jury
Jurors were selected from a pool of experts, including:
- Academics in the field of sake brewing
- Staff members from the National Research Institute of Brewing (NRIB)
- Staff members from prefectural brewing-related organizations
- Sake experts/manufacturers recommended by the prefectural sake makers’ associations of the Tohoku region
- Technical officers from the Sendai Regional Taxation Bureau

List of Jurors 2013

Name	Affiliation	Preliminary Exam		Final Exam
		Ginjo-shu	Junmai-shu
		October 7–8	October 9	October 11
KATSUMI HASHIZUME	DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL RESOURCE SCIENCE, AKITA PREFECTURAL UNIVERSITY
TOMOAKI SAITO	AOMORI PREFECTURAL INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH CENTER
YASUHITO MURANAKA
HARUO FUJIGAMORI	MOMOKAWA BREWING, INC.
YOSHIHIRO HOSOKAWA	NISHIDA SHUZOTEN CO., LTD.
TAKAHIRO KAWAI	ROKKA SHUZO CO., LTD.
SHIGEKI NAKAYAMA	IWATE INDUSTRIAL RESERCH INSTITUTE
NARUHIDE SATO
YUICHI YONEKURA
KOTARO OKUMURA	HAMACHIDORI CO., LTD.
MAKOTO TAKAHASHI	HISASHI TAKAHASHI
KATSUHIRO ISHII	WASHINOO CORPORATION
SEIJI OYAMA	INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE, MIYAGI PREFECTURAL GOVERNMENT
KENYA HASHIMOTO
KENJI ITO	MIYAGI SAKE AND SHOCHU MAKERS ASSOCIATION
MOTONORI MIURA	KANENOI SHUZOU CO., LTD.
KAICHIRO SAITO	KAKUBOSHI CO., LTD.
TAKAHIRO HIRAI	HIRAKOU CORPORATION
SEIEI WATANABE	AKITA RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FOOD AND BREWING
TSUYOSHI OONO
HITOSHI TAKAHASHI
TADASHI KIKUCHI	AKITA SHURUI SEIZOH CO., LTD.
JISHU SATO	KIMURA BREWERY INC.
TAKANORI SADO	AKITASEISHU
SHINPEI KUDOH	YAMAGATA RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
HIROYOSHI ISHIGAKI
TOSHIHITO WATARAI	WATARAI SAKE BREWING CO., LTD.
MASASHI JIN	TAKAHASHI SHUZOTEN LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
MASUMI NAKANO	DEWAZAKURA SAKE BREWERY CO., LTD.
NOBUHIRO KIKUCHI	AIZUWAKAMATSU TECHNICAL SUPPORT CENTRE FUKUSHIMA TECHNOLOGY CENTRE
KENJI SUZUKI
KEIICHI NARITA	EISEN SHUZOU CO., LTD.
JUNKO KASHIWAGI	HANAHARUSHUZOU CO., LTD.
NOBUHIRO HOSOI	KOKKEN BREWERY CO., LTD.
HISASHI FUKUDA	NATIONAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF BREWING
HIROO KONDO	OFFICE OF ANALYSIS AND BREWING TECHNOLOGY, SENDAI REGIONAL TAXATION BUREAU
HAJIME MOTOMURA
JOHJI AIZAWA
RYO SAITO

4. Awards

Entrants earning high scores in the final examination are awarded with an Honor Prize. Honor Prizes are 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 Prize” is awarded to those placing first in each category, and “Special Honor Prizes” are awarding to those placing both second and third. Certificates are then granted to each of the prize winners by the Commissioner of the Sendai Regional Taxation Bureau.

5. Statistics

6. List of Prize Winners

(1) Ginjo-shu Category

(2) Junmai-shu Category