November 10, 2017
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 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.
(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
(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
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.
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.
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
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
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
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
Prefecture | Brewery | JCN | Brand |
---|---|---|---|
Aomori | MOMOKAWA BREWING, INC. | JCN6420001012244 | MOMOKAWA |
Prefecture | Brewery | JCN | Brand |
---|---|---|---|
Iwate | ASABIRAKI CO., LTD. | JCN8400001000067 | ASABIRAKI |
Akita | AZAKURASHUZO CO., LTD. | JCN1410001008768 | AZAKURA |
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 |
Prefecture | Brewery | JCN | Brand |
---|---|---|---|
Fukushima | HIGASHINIHONSHUZO PRODUCTIVITY IMPROVEMENT COOPERATIVE | JCN1380005003942 | OKUNOMATSU |
Prefecture | Brewery | JCN | Brand |
---|---|---|---|
Fukushima | SUEHIRO SAKE BREWERY CO., LTD. HAKASEKURA | JCN2380001017549 | GENSAI |
Fukushima | WATANABE SHUZOHONTEN CO., LTD. | JCN4380002013173 | YUKIKOMACHI |
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