The winners of the 2025th Kura Master sake competition were announced in June 6. Kura Master is a sake competition for French people that has been held in France since 9. The competition places great importance on the compatibility of food and drink, and the judges are professionals in the food and beverage industry, including top sommeliers from first-class hotels.

This time, we will introduce some of the sakes that were selected as winners of the "Kura Master" sake competition.Sake World NFTHowever, we have selected award-winning sakes that can be purchased and aged in storage! Be sure to check them out!

2025 Sake Sparkling Category Platinum Award

"Kikuizumi Hitosuji" by Takizawa Sake Brewery

Founded in 3 in Ogawamachi, Saitama Prefecture. In 20, seeking the advantage of the location and water, the brewery was built along the Nakasendo road at Fukaya-juku. Since then, it has been loved for many years as Fukaya's local sake, symbolized by its brick chimney that is over 19 meters tall. In 6, Takizawa Hideyuki, the sixth generation head of the family, took over from the previous master brewer, Nanbu Toji, and became Toji himself. Based on the traditions that have been passed down, the brewery continues to take on new challenges while incorporating new techniques and values. It advocates innovation in handmade products, and in recent years has focused on developing authentic sparkling sake.

Developed over a period of eight years, this Awa Sake Association certified sake is a clear sparkling pure rice sake that is produced using a secondary fermentation process in the bottle, using the same method used for champagne production. It has a refreshing sweetness and a pleasant acidity from lactic and malic acids, creating a delicate yet strong carbonation. The natural umami of sake brings out the richness of Japanese cuisine, while the refreshing popping bubbles and pleasant acidity enhance the flavors of French and Italian cuisine. In 8, the sake was patented for its "production method for sparkling sake" (Patent No. 2019), and has received high praise at competitions both in Japan and abroad.

2025 Sake Sparkling Category Gold Award

"Kikuizumi Hitosujirei" by Takizawa Sake Brewery

The raw rice is "Gohyakumangoku" from Saitama prefecture, polished to 35%, and produced using the patented "Method of Producing Sparkling Sake (Patent No. 2019)" obtained in 6611181. It is then stored at low temperatures for over three years. The result is a classy and refined sake with a pale gold color and countless bubbles rising up like sparkling rays of light. It has a sweet aroma reminiscent of honey-filled apples and ripe pears. The minute you put it in your mouth, fine bubbles spread throughout your mouth, bringing with it a delicate and rich flavor.

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Exploring the potential of "AWA SAKE," an initiative by Saitama Prefecture's Takizawa Sake Brewery that opens up the world to Japanese sake

#Saitama

2025 Platinum Award in the Junmai Daiginjo Sake (36-50%) category

"Kiracho Junmai Daiginjo Aoshi" by Kita Sake Brewery

In 3, the founder, Kita Gizaemon, began brewing sake in Yokaichi, a town on the Koto Plain in Omi Province where the fertile Omi rice is harvested. At the time, the store was called Tenmaya, and they purchased rice from nearby farmers and brewed sake. The brand name "Kirakucho" was chosen with the hope that drinkers would enjoy drinking the sake and live long lives.

The deep flavor of the koji creates a rich umami and sweetness, and the taste is felt on the tongue. The soft acidity created by storing the sake at low temperatures brings together the flavors, creating a deep harmony. You can enjoy the gentle and pleasant taste that embodies the "delicate" that Kiracho seeks.

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Kita Sake Brewery

Shiga

#Shiga♯Sake brewery

"Hyotaiko Junmai Daiginjo" by Nissin Shurui

Taiko Shuzojo, a sake brewery that has been in business since the late Edo period, makes sake by taking advantage of the nature and blessings of Awa Tokushima. With the motto of "Every day is new," which is the name of the company, they continue to study every day and deliver a wide variety of products. "Hisago Taiko" is a sake brewed with traditional techniques and the climate and soil of Tokushima, with great care taken with every drop.

This Junmai Daiginjo sake is made with Awa Yamada Nishiki rice from the brewery's local town of Awa and underground water from the Yoshino River in the Shikoku mountain range. It is brewed with great care, capturing the passion of the brewers, the climate and soil of Awa, and everything else. The rice is polished to 40% and brewed carefully at low temperatures. It is a clear, crisp sake with a harmonious fruity top note and a gorgeous aftertaste. You can also enjoy the clarity that flows into the aftertaste.

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Nisshin Liquor Co., Ltd.

Tokushima

♯Sake brewery

2025 Junmai Daiginjo Sake (36-50%) Category Gold Award

"Shirogane no Shizuku" by Hakurei Sake Brewery

This is a representative brand that has been loved for a long time, thanks to the sake brewing techniques that have been cultivated since the brewery's founding in 1832 (Tenpo 3). The name comes from the poem "Hakurei" by the ninth generation Rokuemon, who described the pure white snow that piled up on the peak of Mount Yura, Tango Fuji, which towers in front of the brewery. In 1950 (Showa 25), the famous sakes "Chiyo Hakuho" and "Yuraizumi" were renamed to "Hakurei". They are particular about the cultivation of sake rice, and for brewing water, they use Fudo Sansui, a spring water from Fudo Falls that flows from the middle of Mount Yura. Although the water quality is very soft, they can brew both sweet and dry sakes, and it is said that the sobering up is outstanding. It also goes well with seafood from the Sea of ​​Japan, which Kyoto Tango is proud of, such as Matsuba crab, cockle, and sandfish.

This Junmai Daiginjo sake is made from 50% polished Yamadanishiki rice and brewed with the immovable waters of Mt. Yuragatake. It has a fruity ginjo aroma reminiscent of apples and white peaches, a good balance of sweetness and sourness, and the delicious flavor of juicy rice, all of which can be enjoyed chilled. It has won gold medals in the sake category at the International Wine Challenge and in the Junmai Daiginjo category at KuraMaster Paris, and has been served twice in first class on Japan's leading international airlines. It is one of the products that Hakurei Sake Brewery's flagship brand. You can enjoy its elegant, soft, sweet aftertaste.

"Junmai Daiginjo Genshu 40% Polished Hakurei PLATINUM" by Hakurei Sake Brewery

A daiginjo sake with a soft and clean mouthfeel that brings to mind the brewing water "Fudo Sansui" from Hakurei, that will have you drinking more and more without even realizing it. This special pure rice daiginjo sake was released as a commemorative sake in 190, the 2022th anniversary of the founding of Hakurei Sake Brewery. Aiming to take the ranks above the award-winning "Junmai Daiginjo Shirogin no Shizuku", this sake was carefully crafted by Fudo Sansui using contract-grown locally grown Yamadanishiki rice polished to 40%. It has a gorgeous and fresh aroma like melon, and its taste has a well-balanced umami and acidity that allows you to feel the soft umami of the rice.

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Hakurei Sake Brewery

京都

#Kyoto♯Sake brewery

2025 Junmaishu (51-65%) Category Gold Award

"Shikizakura Tochigi no Hoshi Junmaishu" by Utsunomiya Sake Brewery

Sake is brewed with the blessings of heaven (weather) and earth (rice quality), and what determines its taste is the spirit of the sake brewer, who wants to brew delicious sake! The brewery's creed is "Magokoro Ikken: Sake reflects the attitude of the brewer." The motto is "Even if the sake is in a small cup, if it is made with the heart of the brewer, the flavor is infinite." Shikizakura, which uses underground water from the pure Kinugawa River as its brewing water, is characterized by its rich aroma, gentle mouthfeel, sharpness and subtle sweetness.

This pure rice sake is made from the delicious edible rice "Tochigi no Hoshi," which was adopted at the Daijosai ceremony and received a special A rating in the "Rice Taste Ranking." It is full of the flavor of rice, just like freshly cooked rice, and can be enjoyed as a pairing with a variety of dishes.

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Utsunomiya Sake Brewery (Tochigi Prefecture)

Kanto

#Tochigi

"Nagaragawa Junmai Ginjo" by Ono Sake Brewery

Founded in 1894. Located at the northern end of the Nobi Plain in Gifu Prefecture, the brewery brews local sake named after the Nagaragawa River, famous for its traditional cormorant fishing, using the underground waters of the clear Nagaragawa River that flows under the brewery and Gifu sake rice "Hida Homare". Gifu is a red miso culture area. The brewery's specialty is "sake with a comforting flavor" that matches that food culture, and it is committed to the traditional technique of complete fermentation, bringing out the maximum flavor of the rice. It is also known as a brewery that "brews sake with music playing", and environmental music that brings out alpha waves is played in the brewery to stimulate fermentation. The brewery was quick to start exporting, and the brand is shipped overseas, mainly to the United States and Singapore, and is loved around the world.

Gifu local sake with a good balance of aroma and flavor. Made with underground water from the Nagara River and Gifu sake rice "Hida Homare". Rich and sweet aroma with a refined finish. A delicious Junmai Ginjo that allows you to enjoy the flavor of the rice while still having a soft mouthfeel. The label was designed by Dan Ichimoto, who is active in the United States, and the sake is loved in eight countries around the world. A special product brewed with traditional techniques from a sake brewery that resonates with the music of nature.

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Nagara River Junmai Ginjo

Gifu

#NFT♯Contest winning sake

"Honshu No. 1 Unfiltered Junmai Ginjo" by Umeda Sake Brewery

Founded in the early Taisho era, Umeda Sake Brewery is marked by a red brick chimney towering over a residential area in Funakoshi, Aki Ward, eastern Hiroshima City. "Honshuichi," brewed with the desire to make the best sake in Japan, has won acclaim at international liquor tasting events such as the Kura Master sake competition in France and the International Wine Challenge (IWC) in London, making it a brand that is gaining attention not only in Japan but around the world.

By skipping the activated charcoal filtration process, Honshuichi Unfiltered Junmai Ginjo retains the original flavor of the raw sake. It has a smooth mouthfeel, a rich, calming aroma, and a well-balanced, finely grained flavor.

"Honshu No. 1 Unfiltered Junmai Sake" by Umeda Sake Brewery

By skipping the activated charcoal filtration process, this Junmai sake retains the original flavor of the raw sake. It has a well-balanced, gorgeous, fruity aroma and rich flavor. This product has been pasteurized (heat-treated).

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Umeda Sake Brewery

Hiroshima

♯Hiroshima

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