November 10, 2017
Office of Analysis and Brewing Technology
Sendai Regional Taxation Bureau

1. Outline

(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 comprise those 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 awarded to the winning brewers at the commendation ceremony.

(2) Review of 2017
 In 2017, 143 breweries submitted a total of 385 sakes to two categories; ginjo-shu and junmai-shu. The quality examinations were held in October, with 65 of the participating breweries aiming to win prizes. Certificates were then granted to the prizewinners of each category at the commendation ceremony held on November 10, by the commissioner of the Sendai Regional Taxation Bureau.
 In addition to the two above-mentioned categories, we conducted a new trial category of junmai-shu, which differentiated itself from the pre-established junmai-shu category by its submission requirements (the rice polishing rate of the new trial category was limited to 60% or more, whereas that of the conventional junmai-shu category could be any figure). The number of entries to this new category numbered 32 from the six prefectures. As this new category was just a trial, no awards were given to the participants, and the details and results were omitted in this report.
 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.

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 from the below-mentioned categories that were brewed at the entrant’s own production site between July 2016 and June 2017

(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 3-6, 2017
 -Final examination: October 11, 2017

(2) Process
 The jurors assess the quality of each sample by sensory evaluation. All examinations are blinded 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:
 - 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 and shochu makers’ associations of the Tohoku region
 - Technical officers from the Sendai Regional Taxation Bureau

List of Jurors 2017
Name Affiliations Participating Examinations
TAKUYA KOSEKI DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND APPLIED LIFESCIENCES,
FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE, YAMAGATA UNIVERSITY
GF, JF
TOMOAKI SAITO AOMORI PREFECTURAL INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH CENTER JP, GF, JF
AKIRA OGURA AOMORI PREFECTURAL INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH CENTER GP
NOBUYUKI KOMAI HACHINOHE SHUZO CO., LTD. JP
TAKAHIRO KAWAI ROKKA SHUZO CO., LTD. GP
YASUHITO MURANAKA AOMORI SAKE AND SHOCHU MAKERS ASSOCIATION GF, JF
NARUHIDE SATO IWATE INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE JP
SHIGEKI NAKAYAMA IWATE INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE GP
YUICHI YONEKURA IWATE INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE GF, JF
MAKOTO TAKAHASHI TAKAHASHI RYOJI JP
YASUAKI KONNO SUISEN SHUZO CO., LTD. GP
KOUTAROU OKUMURA HAMACHIDORI CO., LTD. GF, JF
KENYA HASHIMOTO INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE,
MIYAGI PREFECTURAL GOVERNMENT
JP
JUNICHI ISHIKAWA INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE,
MIYAGI PREFECTURAL GOVERNMENT
GP
KENJI ITO MIYAGI SAKE AND SHOCHU MAKERS ASSOCIATION GF, JF
KIYOSHI SATO ICHINOKURA CORPORATION JP
KAICHIROU SAITO KAKUBOSHI CORPORATION GP
TAKAHIRO HIRAI HIRAKOU CORPORATION GF, JF
TSUYOSHI OHNO AKITA RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FOOD AND BREWING JP , GP
SEIEI WATANABE AKITA RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FOOD AND BREWING GF, JF
TADASHI KIKUCHI AKITA SHURUI SEIZOH CO., LTD. JP
KOUTAROU SAITO SAIYASHUZOTEN CO., LTD. GP
YUUSUKE SATO ARAMASA SHUZO CO., LTD. GF, JF
SHINPEI KUDOH YAMAGATA RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY GP, JP
HIROYOSHI ISHIGAKI YAMAGATA RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY GF, JF
SHIGEKI WADA WADASHUZO LIMITED PARTNERSHIP JP
TOSHIHITO WATARAI WATARAI SAKE BREWING CO., LTD. GP
TOSHIHIKO KOSEKI YAMAGATA SAKE AND SHOCHU MAKERS ASSOCIATION GF, JF
NATSUKO NAKAJIMA AIZUWAKAMATSU TECHNICAL SUPPORT CENTRE
FUKUSHIMA TECHNOLOGY CENTRE
JP
NOBUHIRO KIKUCHI AIZUWAKAMATSU TECHNICAL SUPPORT CENTRE
FUKUSHIMA TECHNOLOGY CENTRE
GP
KENJI SUZUKI AIZUWAKAMATSU TECHNICAL SUPPORT CENTRE
FUKUSHIMA TECHNOLOGY CENTRE
GF, JF
HIROYUKI MATSUZAKI MATSUZAKI JYUNICHI JP
TETSUYA SATO YAMATOGAWA SHUZOTEN LIMITED PARTNERSHIP GP
HISAO SHIKE GENERAL PARTNERSHIP SHIKESHUZOUTEN GF, JF
OSAMU YAMADA NATIONAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF BREWING GF, JF
KENTARO ISHIDA OFFICE OF ANALYSIS AND BREWING TECHNOLOGY,
SENDAI REGIONAL TAXATION BUREAU
GP, JP, GF, JF
KENICHIRO TAJIMA GP, JP, GF, JF
TAKEHIRO AKUTSU GP, JP, GF, JF
MASAKI NOSE GP, JP, GF, JF
KEITA YAMADA GF, JF

Abbreviations: GP, Ginjo-shu preliminary ex.; JP, Junmai-shu preliminary ex.; GF, Ginjo-shu final ex.; JF, Junmai-shu final ex.

4. Awards

 Entrants earning high scores in the final examination are awarded with 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 both second and third. Certificates are then granted to each of the prizewinners by the commissioner of the Sendai Regional Taxation Bureau.

5. Statistics

(1) Number of Entries
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

(Previous Year)
Prefecture Ginjo-shu Junmai-shu Total
Aomori 22  (11) 12  (12) 34  (12)
Iwate 29  (15) 15  (15) 44  (16)
Miyagi 37  (19) 16  (16) 53  (22)
Akita 48  (24) 25  (25) 73  (27)
Yamagata 71  (37) 29  (29) 100  (37)
Fukushima 50  (27) 30  (30) 80  (33)
Total 257 (133) 127 (127) 384 (147)

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   (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

(Previous Year)
Prefecture Ginjo-shu Junmai-shu Total
Aomori 7   (4) 4   (4) 11   (6)
Iwate 8   (6) 3   (3) 11   (6)
Miyagi 11   (7) 6   (6) 17   (9)
Akita 17  (11) 13  (13) 30  (15)
Yamagata 19  (13) 5   (5) 24  (14)
Fukushima 13   (9) 12  (12) 25  (13)
Total 75  (50) 43  (43) 118  (63)

Numbers in parentheses indicate the number of breweries

6.List of Prize Winners

(1) Ginjo-shu Category

a. Grand Honor Prize
Prefecture Brewery JCN Brand
Aomori MOMOKAWA BREWING, INC. JCN6420001012244 MOMOKAWA
b. Special Honor Prize
Prefecture Brewery JCN Brand
Iwate ASABIRAKI CO., LTD. JCN8400001000067 ASABIRAKI
Akita AZAKURASHUZO CO., LTD. JCN1410001008768 AZAKURA
c. Honor Prize
Prefecture Brewery JCN Brand
Aomori NISHIDASHUZOTEN CO., LTD. JCN9420001001673 KINKAN KIKUIZUMI
Aomori MIURA SHUZO CO., LTD. JCN4420001010349 HOUHAI
Iwate KIKUNOTSUKASASHUZO CO., LTD. JCN3400001000476 KIKUNOTSUKASA
Iwate HIROTA HIDETOSHI   HIROKI
Iwate WASHINOO CORPORATION JCN8400001004101 WASHINOO
Iwate HAMACHIDORI CO., LTD. JCN4400001007322 HAMACHIDORI
Iwate NANBUBIJIN BASENKYOUKURA CO., LTD. JCN8400001007847 NANBUBIJIN
Miyagi UCHIGASAKI BREWING CO. JCN3370003001278 HOYO
Miyagi SAURA COMPANY, LIMITED JCN5370601000266 URAKASUMI
Miyagi GENERAL PARTNERSHIP KAWAKEI SHOTEN JCN5370203000219 KOGANESAWA
Miyagi NAKAYUSHUZOTEN CORPORATION JCN6370201002364 TENJOMUGEN
Miyagi OTOKOYAMA CO., LTD. JCN2370501000055 SOTENDEN
Miyagi CHIDASHUZO CORPORATION JCN8370201003071 KURIKOMAYAMA
Akita AKITA SHURUI SEIZOH CO., LTD. HONSHAGURA JCN8410001000388 TAKASHIMIZU
Akita AKITA SHURUI SEIZOH CO., LTD. GOSHONOGURA JCN8410001000388 TAKASHIMIZU
Akita NABASHOUTEN CO., LTD. JCN2410001001994 GINRIN
Akita HINOMARUJOZO CO., LTD. JCN6410001009167 MANSAKUNOHANA
Akita SAIYASHUZOTEN CO., LTD. JCN6410001004787 YUKINOBOUSHA KACHOUGESSEKI
Akita HIRAIZUMIHONPO CORPORATION JCN8410001005189 HIRAIZUMI
Akita AKITA MEIJYO COMPANY LIMITED JCN5410001005431 RANMAN
Akita KIMURA BREWERY INC. JCN8410001010073 FUKUKOMACHI
Akita DEWATSURUSHUZO CO., LTD. JCN6410001008202 DEWATSURU
Yamagata SHUHO SHUZOJO CO., LTD. JCN4390002001276 SHUHO
Yamagata DEWAZAKURA SAKE BREWERY CO., LTD. JCN5390001004452 DEWAZAKURA
Yamagata FUJISHUZO CO., LTD. JCN8390001007782 EIKO FUJI
Yamagata SAKATA SHUZO CO., LTD. JCN5390001006226 JYOKIGEN
Yamagata SUGIISAMIWARABIOKA BREWERY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP JCN7390003000456 SUGIISAMI
Yamagata TOHOKUMEIJO CORPORATION JCN5390001006440 HATSUMAGO
Yamagata WADASHUZO LIMITED PARTNERSHIP JCN6390003000928 ARATAMA GASSANMARU
Yamagata TAKAGISHUZO CO., LTD. JCN4390001009320 JUYONDAI
Fukushima KINSUISHO SAKE BREWERY CO., LTD. JCN4380002000997 KINSUISHO
Fukushima INAGAWASHUZOTEN LIMITED PARTNERSHIP JCN9380003001759 INAGAWA
Fukushima EISEN SHUZO CO., LTD. JCN6380001017280 EISHIRO
Fukushima SHIRAISHUZOTEN LIMITED PARTNERSHIP JCN3380003001772 BANDAIHOU
Fukushima SUEHIRO SAKE BREWERY
CO., LTD. HAKASEKURA
JCN2380001017549 GENSAI
Fukushima TSURUNOESYUZO CO., LTD. JCN7380001017619 AIZUCHUJO
Fukushima NAGURAYAMA SAKE BREWERY CO., LTD. JCN6380001017685 NAGURAYAMA
Fukushima WATANABE SHUZOHONTEN CO., LTD. JCN4380002013173 YUKIKOMACHI
Fukushima NINKISHUZO CO., LTD. JCN1380001009951 NINKIICHI
Fukushima HIGASHINIHONSHUZO PRODUCTIVITY IMPROVEMENT COOPERATIVE JCN1380005003942 OKUNOMATSU
Fukushima KOKKENSHUZO CO., LTD. JCN5380001019146 KOKKEN
Fukushima WATANABE KENICHI   KAITO OTOKOYAMA

(2) Junmai-shu Category

a. Grand Honor Prize
Prefecture Brewery JCN Brand
Fukushima HIGASHINIHONSHUZO PRODUCTIVITY IMPROVEMENT COOPERATIVE JCN1380005003942 OKUNOMATSU
b. Special Honor Prize
Prefecture Brewery JCN Brand
Fukushima SUEHIRO SAKE BREWERY CO., LTD. HAKASEKURA JCN2380001017549 GENSAI
Fukushima WATANABE SHUZOHONTEN CO., LTD. JCN4380002013173 YUKIKOMACHI
c. Honor Prize
Prefecture Brewery JCN Brand
Aomori NISHIDASHUZOTEN CO., LTD. JCN9420001001673 KINKAN KIKUIZUMI
Aomori MIURA SHUZO CO., LTD. JCN4420001010349 HOUHAI
Aomori MOMOKAWA BREWING, INC. JCN6420001012244 MOMOKAWA
Iwate ASABIRAKI CO., LTD. JCN8400001000067 ASABIRAKI
Iwate KIKUNOTSUKASASHUZO CO., LTD. JCN3400001000476 KIKUNOTSUKASA
Iwate HIROTA HIDETOSHI   HIROKI
Iwate WASHINOO CORPORATION JCN8400001004101 WASHINOO
Iwate HAMACHIDORI CO., LTD. JCN4400001007322 HAMACHIDORI
Iwate NANBUBIJIN CO., LTD. JCN8400001007847 NANBUBIJIN
Miyagi ABEKAN SAKE BREWERY CO., LTD. JCN4370001041432 ABEKAN
Miyagi SAURA COMPANY, LIMITED JCN5370601000266 URAKASUMI
Miyagi ICHINOKURA CORPORATION HONSHAKURA JCN4370201000031 ICHINOKURA HONSHAKURA
Miyagi YAMAWASHUZO CO., LTD. JCN2370201002401 WASHIGAKUNI GETSURIN MEISOUSUI
Miyagi CHIDASHUZO CORPORATION JCN8370201003071 KURIKOMAYAMA
Miyagi HAGINOSHUZO COMPANY, LIMITED JCN7370201003139 HAGINOTSURU
Miyagi ISHIKOSHIJOZO CORPORATION JCN5370401000417 SAWANOIZUMI
Akita AKITA SHURUI SEIZOH CO., LTD. HONSHAGURA JCN8410001000388 TAKASHIMIZU
Akita AKITA SHURUI SEIZOH CO., LTD.GOSHONOGURA JCN8410001000388 TAKASHIMIZU
Akita AKITAJOZO CO., LTD. JCN6410001000373 YUKINO BIJIN
Akita ARAMASA SHUZO CO., LTD. JCN8410001000157 ARAMASA
Akita KODAMA BREWING CO., LTD. JCN6410001003426 TAIHEIZAN
Akita FUKUROKUJUSHUZO CORPORATION JCN7410001003499 IPPAKUSUISEI
Akita AZAKURASHUZO CO., LTD. JCN1410001008768 AZAKURA
Akita ASAMAISYUZO CO., LTD. JCN3410001008956 AMANOTO
Akita HINOMARUJOZO CO., LTD. JCN6410001009167 MANSAKUNOHANA
Akita SAIYASHUZOTEN CO., LTD. JCN6410001004787 YUKINOBOUSHA CHOUSETSU
Akita HIRAIZUMIHONPO CORPORATION JCN8410001005189 HIRAIZUMI
Akita KIMURA BREWERY INC. JCN8410001010073 FUKUKOMACHI
Akita KARIHOSHUZO CO., LTD. JCN9410001007903 KARIHO
Akita TAKAHASHI SHUZOTEN CO., LTD. JCN5410001008005 OKUSHIMIZU
Yamagata DEWAZAKURA SAKE BREWERY CO., LTD.YAMAGATAGURA JCN5390001004452 DEWAZAKURA
Yamagata FUJISHUZO CO., LTD. JCN8390001007782 EIKO FUJI
Yamagata SAKATA SHUZO CO., LTD. JCN5390001006226 JYOKIGEN
Yamagata SHITARASHUZO CO., LTD. JCN2390001012103 HITOKOE
Yamagata SUZUKI SHUZO LIMITED PARTNERSHIP JCN4390003000938 GINREI GASSAN
Yamagata WADASHUZO LIMITED PARTNERSHIP JCN6390003000928 ARATAMA
Yamagata TAKAGISHUZO CO., LTD. JCN4390001009320 JUYONDAI
Yamagata ROKKASENSHUZO PRODUCTIVITY IMPROVEMENT COOPERATIVE JCN7390005005619 TEMAHIMA
Fukushima INAGAWASHUZOTEN LIMITED PARTNERSHIP JCN9380003001759 SHICHIJURO
Fukushima SHIRAISHUZOTEN LIMITED PARTNERSHIP JCN3380003001772 ISASUMINOMORI
Fukushima TSURUNOESYUZO CO., LTD. JCN7380001017619 AIZUCHUJO
Fukushima SATOUSYUZOU CO., LTD. JCN4380001007977 MIHARUKOMA
Fukushima NIIDAHONKE CO., LTD. JCN8380002011280 ODAYAKA
Fukushima TOYOKUNI SHUZO LIMITED PARTNERSHIP JCN3380003000799 CHOH
Fukushima KOKKENSHUZO CO., LTD. JCN5380001019146 KOKKEN
Fukushima WATANABE KENICHI   KAITO OTOKOYAMA

JCN indicates Japan Corporate Number