Hello everyone, this is Chisato Tateno, 2025 Miss SAKE Japan.
On Friday, October 17th, I attended the “IWC 2025 Award-Winning Premium Sake Tasting Event – Eve” at the Nomura Conference Plaza Nihonbashi in Chuo-ku, Tokyo. On the day, I had the pleasure of touring the venue alongside 2025 Miss SAKE Miyagi, Manami Ashitate.
About the “IWC 2025 Award-Winning Premium Sake Tasting Event”
The “IWC 2025 Award-Winning Premium Sake Tasting Event” is a special sake event organized by Nomura Real Estate, bringing together the top award-winning sake from the IWC 2025 “SAKE Category.”
The IWC (International Wine Challenge) was established in 1984 and is one of the world’s largest wine competitions. When the “SAKE Category” was established in 2007, Ms. Toshie Hiraide, now serving as the IWC Ambassador, worked closely with the nationwide organization of young brewers, The Japan Sake Brewers Association Junior Council, to help create this category. In 2025, 70 judges from 18 countries gathered in London, UK, to conduct rigorous blind tastings of 1,476 sake entries. Each year, only the top few percent of entries are awarded gold medals, with trophies presented to the highest-ranking sake in each category. From these, the ultimate prize in the SAKE category, the “Champion Sake,” is selected. Historically, IWC’s top award-winning sake have been served at Japanese diplomatic missions abroad, playing a key role in promoting sake culture internationally.
In addition, starting in 2024, IWC’s official sponsor, Nomura Real Estate, established a new award: the “IWC Sake Prefecture of the Year.” This award recognizes the prefecture with the highest overall evaluation based on the entries from local breweries. In 2025, the winner was Miyagi Prefecture. This new recognition highlights the importance of “regionality” in sake production, adding a meaningful dimension to a field that has traditionally focused on individual brands.
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A New Dawn for Sake: The Eve Event
The “IWC 2025 Award-Winning Premium Sake Tasting Event – Eve,” held on Friday, October 17th, welcomed many guests including Nomura Real Estate representatives and industry professionals ahead of the main event on Saturday, October 18th. Despite the limited duration of one hour for each of the two sessions, approximately 400 guests attended, enjoying a wide selection of award-winning sake from across Japan.
At the opening ceremony, Nomura Real Estate President Daisaku Matsuo and Executive Vice President Hiroshi Kurokawa delivered welcoming remarks, congratulating the award-winning breweries and expressing gratitude to IWC Ambassador Ms. Hiraide. They also shared their vision for the newly established “IWC Sake Prefecture of the Year” award. Unlike wine, the Japanese sake industry is still developing awareness around regional characteristics, and this new award is expected to significantly contribute to promoting Japanese culture globally and supporting regional communities.
Throughout the venue, brewers personally served their sake and shared stories about their brewing philosophy and the characteristics of their local regions. Guests were able to savor each sake deeply, experiencing the diversity and depth of Japanese sake. The event fostered a warm and engaging atmosphere where guests, brewers, and organizers could share their enthusiasm and expectations for the future of sake. The Eve event was a vibrant and meaningful prelude that heightened anticipation for the main public event the following day.
Celebrating the Joy of Award-Winning Breweries
As Miss SAKE, we also toured the venue, enjoying the award-winning sake with all the attendees. While visiting the brewery booths, I heard stories directly from the brewers, such as surprise at learning about the award through a friend, or excitement from the whole brewery team celebrating together. These moments vividly conveyed the joy and passion behind each award. Many guests also purchased their favorite sake for home consumption or as gifts.
In total, 26 award-winning sake were showcased across different categories. Despite the limited time, each brewery booth attracted many visitors, with lines forming at several booths.
List of Award-Winning Sake
[Junmai Sake] Junmai Trophy: Asamayama IBUKI – Asama Shuzo Co., Ltd. (Gunma)
Hyogo Barrel Sake Trophy: Kiku-Masamune Junmai Taru Zake – Kiku-Masamune Sake Co., Ltd. (Hyogo)
Hyogo Junmai Trophy: Shochikubai Shirakabegura “Nendo” – Takara Shuzo Co., Ltd. (Hyogo)
Hiroshima Junmai Trophy: Ugo no Tsuki Tokubetsu Junmai Jusan-ya – Aihara Shuzo Co., Ltd. (Hiroshima)[Junmai Ginjo Sake] Junmai Ginjo Trophy: Daisekkei Junmai Ginjo D Omachi – Daisekkei Shuzo Co., Ltd. (Nagano)
Kanagawa Junmai Ginjo Trophy: Setoichi Kakukaku Shikajika – Seto Shuzo Co., Ltd. (Kanagawa)
Nagano Junmai Ginjo Trophy: Jurokudai Kurouemon Junmai Ginjo Aiyama – Yukawa Shuzo Co., Ltd. (Nagano)[Junmai Daiginjo Sake] ◎Champion Sake / Junmai Daiginjo Trophy: Shichiken Junmai Daiginjo Hakushin – Yamanashi Meijo Co., Ltd. (Yamanashi)
Tochigi Junmai Daiginjo Trophy: Junmai Daiginjo Aratana – Kikunosato Shuzo Co., Ltd. (Tochigi)
Chiba Junmai Daiginjo Trophy: Kinoene Junmai Daiginjo Yamada Nishiki 50 – Iinuma Honke Co., Ltd. (Chiba)
Hyogo Junmai Daiginjo Trophy: Banshu Ikkon Junmai Daiginjo Yamada Nishiki – Sanyo Hai Shuzo Co., Ltd. (Hyogo)
Tottori Junmai Daiginjo Trophy: Chiyomusubi Junmai Daiginjo Goriki 30 – Chiyomusubi Shuzo Co., Ltd. (Tottori)[Honjozo Sake] Honjozo Trophy: Atago no Matsu Ken’nai Honjozo – Niizawa Jouzo Co., Ltd. (Miyagi)
Miyagi Honjozo Trophy: Atago no Matsu Betsujikomi Honjozo – Niizawa Jouzo Co., Ltd. (Miyagi)
Nigori Honjozo Trophy: Honjozo Nigorizake Shiroki Tenryu – Kikusui Shuzo Co., Ltd. (Nagano)[Ginjo Sake] Ginjo Trophy: Mutsu Hassen Pink Label – Hachinohe Shuzo Co., Ltd. (Aomori)
[Daiginjo Sake] Daiginjo Trophy: Nagasaki Bijin Daiginjo – Fukuda Shuzo Co., Ltd. (Nagasaki)
Gunma Daiginjo Trophy: Premium Daiginjo Higen – Asama Shuzo Co., Ltd. (Gunma)
Saitama Daiginjo Trophy: Kikuizumi Daiginjo – Takizawa Shuzo Co., Ltd. (Saitama)[Koshu / Aged Sake] Nara Koshu Trophy: Tanzan Ruijyoshu – Nishiuchi Shuzo (Nara)
[Futsu-shu / Regular Sake] ◎Great Value Champion Sake / Futsu-shu Trophy: Hana Akita – Hokushika Co., Ltd. (Akita)
Tochigi Futsu-shu Trophy: Sen – Hokkan Shuzo Co., Ltd. (Tochigi)[Sparkling Sake] Sparkling Trophy: Kamoizumi Sparkling Nihonshu Koju – Kamotsuru Shuzo Co., Ltd. (Hiroshima)
Yamagata Sparkling Rosé Trophy: Yonetsuru Sparkling Rosé – Yonetsuru Shuzo Co., Ltd. (Yamagata)
Yamaguchi Sparkling Namazake Trophy: Gangi Sparkling Junmai Daiginjo – Yaoshin Shuzo Co., Ltd. (Yamaguchi)[Aged / Matured Sake] Aged Sake Trophy: Chotokusen Junmai Daiginjo Zankyo Super7 2018 – Niizawa Jouzo Co., Ltd. (Miyagi)
Notes:
・Items in bold indicate the highest trophy winners in each IWC category.
・“Prefecture / Regional Trophy” is awarded to the second-highest-rated sake in each category, following the top trophy.
Through this Eve event, I truly felt that each internationally recognized sake embodies the blessings of its region, as well as the skill and tireless dedication of its brewers. International competitions such as the IWC reaffirm to the world that traditional sake brewing holds enduring cultural value to be passed down to future generations. I hope that tasting these award-winning sake inspires more people, both in Japan and abroad, to explore the depth of sake culture and the stories behind each bottle.
Moreover, the brewers from Miyagi Prefecture, awarded “IWC Sake Prefecture of the Year,” and other regions, left a strong impression as they continue to respect the land and local traditions in their sake production. Japan’s diverse nature and cultural heritage form the foundation supporting the future of sake culture.
As Miss SAKE, I will continue to share the rich appeal of Japanese sake and the spirit of Japan it embodies with the world, helping to nurture the future of sake culture together. Once again, I sincerely congratulate all the award-winning breweries on their remarkable achievements that illuminate the future of Japanese sake.
Chisato Tateno
2025 Miss SAKE Japan
