Evaluation of sakes by judges (Photo: Sae Nagamatsu)

Sake Competition 2019

Sake Competition 2019 held in Tokyo

Evaluation of sakes by judges (Photo: Sae Nagamatsu)
Sae Nagamatsu   - 5 min read

SAKE COMPETITION 2019

Do you know the world’s most delicious Japanese Sake in the world? Lately Japanese sakes are becoming so popular among non-Japanese people that most of them even know the word “SAKE”. This time we at JapanTravel participated in the 8th award ceremony of the SAKE COMPETITION 2019 which had started since 2012, held on June 10 at The Peninsula Tokyo.

There were seven entering categories, such as Junmai (pure-rice sake), Junmai Ginjo, Junmai Daiginjo, Ginjo, Super Premium, Sparkling sakes, and Oversea brewed sake. This year, the number of entering storehouses was 426 with 1919 sorts of sakes, which surpassed last year. During the whole process of the SAKE COMPETITION, all sakes are judged equally with its quality since the judges don’t know brands of each sakes, therefore any brands have a chance to win the first prize.

Let us introduce sakes in each categories that won the first prize:

Junmai: HOKEN Junmai-Shu retro label from Hiroshima Prefecture

Junmai Ginjo: HIROKI Junmai Ginjo from Fukushima Prefecture

Junmai Daiginjo: ZAKU Asahimai from Mie Prefecture

Ginjo: TENJOMUGEN Daiginjo Yamadanishiki from Miyagi Prefecture

Super Premium: JUYONDAI Ryusen form Yamagata Prefecture

Sparkling: DEWATSURU awa-sake Ashitahe from Akita Prefecture

Oversea brewed sake: Coastal Ginjo from the U.S.A

Also, they started the Otsumami (Appetizer) Competition from this year that choose the best appetizer that goes well with sakes. There were 84 entering Otsumamis, such as Kujūkuri-hama Hamaguri Saka Mushi (Sake-steamed clams) from Chiba Prefecture which won the first prize… since Kujūkuri-hama beach is famous for its big, tasty clams. Would you like to try the best Sake and Otsumami (Appetizer) at a time ? Find your favorite one!

Evaluation of sakes by judges
Evaluation of sakes by judges
The judges cannot see the brands of sakes
The judges cannot see the brands of sakes
Otsumami (Appetizer) Grand Prix
Otsumami (Appetizer) Grand Prix
Many sorts of high-quality sakes
Many sorts of high-quality sakes
Award ceremony
Award ceremony
Award ceremony for the Junmai Ginjo sake
Award ceremony for the Junmai Ginjo sake

Sake Competition Official Website: https://sakecompetition.com/

Sae Nagamatsu

Sae Nagamatsu @sae.nagamatsu

Made in Japan & lived once in Europe during my childhood (Slovakia / France). Currently working in Human Resource for Japan Travel. I also used to live in Utsunomiya, Tochigi pref and Omiya in Saitama pref). Once worked as a multilingual tour guide organiser/conductor in EN & FR in the town of As...