Matsui Sake Brewery’s “Kagura” and Six Consecutive Prize Finishes at the Matsuo Taisha Sake-1 Grand Prix
With the slogan “Trust your own palate,” the Sake-1 Grand Prix ranks sake from breweries across Japan by votes from tasters. Held each year at Matsuo Taisha in Kyoto, it is a rare competition in the sake world where consumers’ impressions directly determine the results. At the 9th competition, held on April 19, 2026, one bottle selected for third place was Matsui Sake Brewery’s “Kagura” from Kyoto.
The true distinction lies in the unwavering consistency of this acclaim. The brewery placed second at the 3rd competition, won the Grand Prix at the 4th, placed second at the 6th and 7th, won the Grand Prix again at the 8th, and took third at the 9th. That makes six consecutive prize finishes, including two overall wins. Earning such repeated acclaim, built one vote at a time for a single label, speaks volumes of its enduring craftsmanship.
A Brewery in the Heart of Kyoto, Operating Since 1726
Matsui Sake Brewery was founded in 1726 in Yoshida, Kyoto. With a history of roughly 300 years, it is now one of the rare urban sake breweries that has continued brewing in central Kyoto for generations.
The brewery also features an adjoining tasting space, Kurabito, open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., where visitors can experience the brewery’s world firsthand. In the heart of Kyoto, Matsui Sake Brewery has quietly overturned the assumption that sake breweries belong solely in mountain villages or on the outskirts of town.
Kagura: A Modern Flagship
“Kagura” is Matsui Sake Brewery’s flagship brand for the modern era.
Its design rests on two pillars. The first is unfiltered, unpasteurized, undiluted sake: bottled in a state closest to the brewer’s intention, without pasteurization, charcoal filtration, or added water. The second is ice-temperature aging. By maturing slowly at around 0°C, the sake retains the structure of the undiluted brew while gaining a smoother, more rounded expression.
Unfiltered, unpasteurized sake is inherently difficult to manage, requiring meticulous care in distribution. Kagura is delivered through a strict cold chain that preserves its temperature from beginning to end, bringing consumers an experience remarkably close to the very first glass opened at the brewery itself. This unwavering approach defines the character of Kagura.
To the Tables of Bangkok
In the autumn of 2026, Matsui Sake Brewery’s Kagura series will cross the ocean to grace the tables of Bangkok. The modern flagship of a brewery that has stood in central Kyoto for nearly 300 years will soon find its place at the counters of sophisticated dining venues across the city.
Six consecutive prize finishes at the Sake-1 Grand Prix, including two Grand Prix wins, quietly affirm that this label’s reputation is no accident. It is supported by a profound consistency in both concept and craft. Born in 1726 and still brewed in the heart of Kyoto with careful control of temperature and time, Kagura now arrives in Bangkok with a new story to tell: the Kyoto of today. (Mr. Bacchus)
This article is intended solely to explore the brewing philosophy and cultural heritage of Matsui Shuzo and its Kagura brand, as reflected in the Matsuo-Taisha Shrine Sake-1 Grand Prix results, and is not intended to promote or encourage the consumption of alcohol. / บทความนี้จัดทำขึ้นเพื่อนำเสนอข้อมูลเกี่ยวกับปรัชญาการผลิตและมรดกทางวัฒนธรรมของ Matsui Shuzo และแบรนด์ Kagura ที่สะท้อนในผลการประกวด Matsuo-Taisha Shrine Sake-1 Grand Prix เท่านั้น มิได้มีเจตนาเพื่อส่งเสริมหรือโฆษณาเครื่องดื่มแอลกอฮอล์ สำหรับผู้มีอายุ 20 ปีขึ้นไป โปรดดื่มอย่างรับผิดชอบ