Participated in the 26th International Rice and Taste Analysis Competition in Hokuto

 

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Hello everyone, This is Urara Miyazawa,2024 Miss SAKE Runner-up. 

The 26th International Rice and Taste Analysis Competition in Hokuto was held at the Alsoa Goddess Forest Central Garden in Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture, on December 6-7.

⚫︎What is the Rice and Taste Analysis Competition?

The purpose of the competition is to evaluate the safety and taste of rice submitted from Japan and overseas, and to establish the reputation and improve the value of the year’s rice.

Unpolished rice is submitted and evaluated through a three-stage judging process. In the first stage of judging, all rice entries are measured for eating quality and brown rice grain quality. Those that meet the prescribed criteria advance to the second stage of judging, where the taste value of the rice after milling is measured. Nominees are then determined based on the total score of the first and second judging, and proceed to the final judging held at the competition site. In the competition, the rice is cooked, and a panel of 30 judges conducts a sensory evaluation, which ultimately determines the Gold Award, the highest evaluation, and the Special Excellence Award, the runner-up.

The top 10 out of 40 are awarded the Gold Prize, and the rice that is nominated and awarded the Gold Prize in this category is the world’s best rice. 

⚫︎Introduction of the program

In two days, sensory evaluations in each category were held as the main event, followed by a talk session by Panzetta Girolamo and a reception featuring meals filled with the bounty of Yamanashi Prefecture. During the sensory evaluation, the participants carefully smelled and tasted the rice one by one.

 At the reception, we assisted in serving sake. Without rice, sake would not be made. We handed out sake to everyone as a token of our gratitude to the producers.

There was also a presentation competition by high school students on the theme of smart agriculture. There were proposals for creating better soil through the power of loach and technology, and for recycling-oriented agriculture using biochar. I was very impressed by all of the presentations, and seeing the students thinking about the future of Japan made me even more determined to do my best.

At the venue, there were also booths where visitors could enjoy rice production companies and Yamanashi’s famous products on the spot. There was also a kotatsu bar where visitors could bring in their own alcohol and food! It is a special winter event to enjoy sake with a kotatsu.

⚫︎ Finally,

Rice cultivation has been a staple food of Japan since ancient times. Rice has been our staple food since ancient times and is indispensable. Today, we are able to eat safe and delicious rice every day without any trouble, thanks to the tireless efforts of producers and the market value through competitions such as this one.I felt once again that we should be thankful for every day that we can eat delicious rice as a matter of course.Thank you very much for this valuable opportunity.

We also wish for the continued growth and development of this competition.

2024 MissSAKE Runner-up Urara Miyazawa