Which sake is truly delicious? The 2025 awards ceremony for the SAKE COMPETITION, a sake tasting event that serves as a standard for selecting sake, was held on June 6th.
The SAKE COMPETITION, which started in 2012, is now in its 11th year.
This sake tasting event was organized by Tokyo liquor retailers with the aim of conveying the appeal of sake to consumers in an easy-to-understand way, based on the idea of "setting new standards so that consumers can find more truly delicious sake regardless of brand."
The sake that is judged is commercially available sake, and the tasting is conducted in a blind manner in which the brands are hidden, and the competition is based solely on the taste (quality) of the sake. Therefore, it is said that any sake has a chance of taking first place, regardless of brand or brand.
The 2025 judging categories will include "Junmai Sake," "Junmai Ginjo," "Junmai Daiginjo," "Super Premium," "Overseas Competition Sake," as well as a new "Modern Natural" category. The winning sakes were announced from among 358 sakes submitted by 1,163 breweries across Japan.
The winners gathered together at the award ceremony held at TAKANAWA GATEWAY CITY.
"Junmai Sake Division"
The top spot goes to Isojiman Omachi Tokubetsu Junmai 1, produced by Isojiman Shuzo Co., Ltd., a long-established sake brewery in Yaizu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, founded in 1830.
"It is a great honor for me as a sake brewer to receive first place in the category of pure rice sake, which is the origin of Japanese sake. I selected yeast that matches the quality of Okayama Prefecture's Omachi premium rice, and made it without cutting corners. This sake goes well not only with Japanese food, but also with Italian and French cuisine," he said. The taste and aroma of the sake are more rice-like than fruity, and the aftertaste is crisp.
2nd place: "Tenjo Mugen Umakuchi Special Junmai" by Nakayu Sake Brewery Co., Ltd. (Miyagi)
3rd place: "Ryuuki Junmai Dry" Matsuya Shuzo Co., Ltd. (Gunma)
4th place: "Hiroyuki Special Junmai" by Hiroki Shuzo Honten Co., Ltd. (Fukushima)
5th place: "AKABU Junmaishu" Akabu Shuzo Co., Ltd. (Iwate)
6th place: "Mimurosugi Roman Series Dio Abita" Imanishi Sake Brewery Co., Ltd. (Nara)
7th place: "Shizenkyo Enyu Junmai" by Oki Daikichi Honten (Fukushima)
8th place: "Tosa Kinzo Special Junmai" Takagi Sake Brewery Co., Ltd. (Kochi)
9th place: "Ichihaku Suisei Special Junmaishu Conscience" Fukurokuju Sake Brewery Co., Ltd. (Akita)
10th place: "Osakazuki Special Junmai" Makino Shuzo Co., Ltd. (Gunma)
"Junmai Ginjo Category"
The top spot went to Kankobai Junmai Ginjo Yamadanishiki 1% from Kankobai Sake Brewery Co., Ltd. (Mie), a family brewery that has been making handmade sake in Ise for generations.
"This year, the quality of the rice itself wasn't very good, and the yeast was difficult to produce, so we were unable to produce a prototype that we were satisfied with. However, through repeated ingenuity and tastings, we continued to make improvements, and I believe that this is what led to this award."
The taste has a gorgeous fruity aroma, fresh acidity, and the umami of Yamadanishiki rice, and is best enjoyed chilled.
2nd place: "Jikon Junmai Ginjo Yamada Nishiki" Kiyamasa Shuzo Co., Ltd. (Mie)
3rd place: "Toyo Bijin Limited Junmai Ginjo Aizan Jundo Ichido" Sumikawa Sake Brewery Co., Ltd. (Yamaguchi)
4th place: "Omine 3-grain Hiyaoroshi Yamada Nishiki" Omine Shuzo Co., Ltd. (Yamaguchi)
5th place: "Musical Instrument Masamune Omachi Nakatori" Oki Daikichi Honten (Fukushima)
6th place: "Made by Kana No Tomo" by Shimizu Seizaburo Shoten Co., Ltd. (Mie)
7th place: "Isojiman Junmai Ginjo" by Isojiman Sake Brewery Co., Ltd. (Shizuoka)
8th place: "Machida Shuzo Junmai Ginjo Yamada Nishiki" Machida Shuzo Co., Ltd. (Gunma)
9th place: Nakajimaya Junmai Ginjo, Nakajimaya Sake Brewery Co., Ltd. (Yamaguchi)
10th place: "AKABU Junmai Ginjo Aizan" Akabu Shuzo Co., Ltd. (Iwate)
"Junmai Daiginjo Category"
First place went to "Morimasu Junmai Daiginjo" from Atsugi Koganei Shuzo Co., Ltd., a company that was founded 1 years ago in Kanagawa Prefecture. Although he was absent from the awards ceremony, he tweeted his surprise on Instagram, saying, "Seriously?!"
It is carefully brewed using the famous water from Nanasawa, and is characterized by its delicate flavor that has a fruity nuance while also balancing sweetness and umami.
2nd place: "Bobo: Junmai Daiginjo Omachi" by Tonoike Sake Brewery Co., Ltd. (Tochigi)
3rd place: "Nanbu Bijin Junmai Daiginjo" Nanbu Bijin Co., Ltd. (Iwate)
4th place: "Organic Junmai Daiginjo Tentaka Tank Pressed Genshu" Tentaka Shuzo Co., Ltd. (Tochigi)
5th place: "Ishizuchi Junmai Daiginjo" Ishizuchi Sake Brewery Co., Ltd. (Ehime)
6th place: "Sanran Junmai Daiginjo Yume Sasara" Tonoike Sake Brewery Co., Ltd. (Tochigi)
7th place: "Nanbu Bijin Junmai Daiginjo Yuinoka" Nanbu Bijin Co., Ltd. (Iwate)
8th place: "AKABU Gokujo no Kizuna Junmai Daiginjo" Akabu Shuzo Co., Ltd. (Iwate)
9th place: "Hakutsuru Alternative Junmai Daiginjo Hakutsuru Nishiki" Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Co., Ltd. (Hyogo)
10th place: "Amanobuki Junmai Daiginjo Aizan" Amabuki Sake Brewery Limited Partnership Company (Saga)
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"Super Premium Division"
The awards are not limited to designated name sake, but are selected from sake with a retail price of 720 yen or more (excluding tax) for 10,000 mL and 1,800 yen or more (excluding tax) for 15,000 mL.
1st place “Gokusei Junmai Daiginjo Tenka Shisei” Miyashita Sake Brewery Co., Ltd. (Okayama)
2nd place: "Denshu Junmai Daiginjo PREMIUM" Nishida Sake Brewery Co., Ltd. (Aomori)
3rd place: "Kudoki Jouzu Inochi" Kamenoi Sake Brewery Co., Ltd. (Yamagata)
"Overseas Sake Competition"
DASSAI USA Inc.'s "DASSAI BLUE Type 23" won first place.
"Modern Natural"
新設された当部門は、純米酒かつ「生酛／山廃／菩提酛」の清酒であり、2023年7月1日～2024年6月30日（2023BY）、および2024年7月1日～2025年6月30日（2024BY）の期間に醸造された清酒から選ばれ、次世代の日本酒が選ばれる。
The first place went to "Densake Junmai Daiginjo Yamahai" by Nishida Sake Brewery Co., Ltd. (Aomori).
"Junmai Daiginjo is often thought of as heavy and peculiar, but Yamahai Junmai Ginjo has no strange flavor at all and is characterized by a refreshing acidity. I wanted to convey that this is true Yamahai, and I feel that receiving this award is proof of that. This is my first year entering the competition and I'm delighted to have received two awards," he said, expressing his joy at receiving the award.
2nd place: "Amefuru Mizumoto Aizan "MIZUMOTO"" Yoshikawa Brewery Co., Ltd. (Kanagawa)
3rd place: "Matsunotsukasa Junmai Daiginjo AZOLLA50" Matsuse Sake Brewery Co., Ltd. (Shiga)
4th place: "Yamashiroya STANDARD CLASS" Echimeijo Co., Ltd. (Niigata)
5th place: "Senkin Modern Isshiki" Senkin Co., Ltd. (Tochigi)
Award-winning sakes tend to sell out quickly after the awards are announced, so if you have the opportunity to try one, be sure to do so.
Truly delicious sake Junmaishu, Junmaiginjo, Junmaidaiginjo... 2024 award-winning sake full rankings
