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Japanese Products

DAIYAME, SEKITOBA

A Debut Recognition

Satsushu Sekitoba and the Horizon of Imo Shochu In May 2021, the official results of the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC) sent a quiet ripple through the industry. At this globally recognized event, evaluating thousands of spirits annually, a Japanese sweet potato shochu earned a Double Gold Medal, the highest distinction in its category. […]

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Shichida Junmai Ginjo Omachi 50

The Sake That Redefined Evaluation in Paris In 2017, the inaugural Kura Master sake competition in Paris culminated in the announcement of its highest honor: the President’s Prize. A panel of leading French sommeliers awarded the title to Shichida Junmai Ginjo Omachi 50, crafted by Tenzan Sake Brewery in Saga Prefecture. The deciding factor was […]

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The Missing Depth in Non-Alcoholic Drinks｜and How Koji Rebuilds the Glass

Have you ever ordered a non-alcoholic beverage and felt an inexplicable void? It arrives perfectly chilled, offering a pleasant aroma. Yet, after a few sips, the intrigue fades. Many dismiss this simply as the absence of alcohol. However, the true reason lies deeper: when alcohol is removed, the structural space it occupied is often left […]

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When Koji Returns

What “Reverse Import” Asks of the Future of Fermentation In the commentary of chefs abroad and the pages of international culinary journals, a persistent refrain emerges: “I learned about koji through noma, or through fermentation books published in English.” Learning about Japanese koji through Western literature｜I found myself dwelling for some time on the paradox […]

CRAFT BEER

Rice as a Common Language Brewed by Thailand and Japan

Where Bangkok’s Craft Beer Returns From June 8 to 10, 2026, the Bangkok Brewing Conference 2026 will convene in the capital. This specialized forum, gathering brewing professionals from across the region, has quietly expanded its presence year after year. What the conference illuminates is a beautifully paradoxical trajectory currently emerging within Thailand’s craft beer scene.After […]

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Wings of Devotion

The Silent Transformation of Toyama’s Haneya In the quiet landscapes of Toyama, Fumigiku Shuzo has stood since 1916. Like many traditional breweries navigating the currents of changing times, it faced decades of declining sake consumption and profound financial pressure. Yet, out of these quiet struggles emerged “Haneya”｜a brand that would redefine the brewery’s destiny. Today, […]

AWARD : SHOCHU

In an Age of “Clean and Crisp,” Deliberately Unfiltered

Toyonaga Shuzo’s “Mugishiru” from Kuma Wins Double Awards in France and Japan The contemporary landscape of barley shochu is largely defined by a pursuit of the “clean and crisp.” A light, approachable profile where complexities are filtered away has come to be seen as the modern ideal.Yet, there exists a barley shochu that consciously navigates […]

AWARD : GIN

The Logic of Subtraction

The Defiant Philosophy Behind NISEKO ohoro GIN Hakkaisan Brewery, the revered Niigata sake producer, has spent more than a century mastering the nuances of rice fermentation since its founding in 1922. Yet, when the historic house turned its gaze toward the pristine wilderness of Niseko, Hokkaido, to craft a gin, it made a singular, counterintuitive […]

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The Philosophy of Bespoke

A Quiet Triumph at IWC 2026 Sake names occasionally carry a quietly elegant turn of phrase. SAKE HUNDRED’s “Byakko Bespoke” is one such example. In Japanese, this expression is known as Betsuatsurae｜a traditional term signifying an item crafted entirely to order. In the vocabulary of sartorial elegance, it translates perfectly to the concept of bespoke […]

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The Philosophy of Totality

How Toyama’s Fumigiku Sake Brewery Secured No. 2 at Kura Master 2026 Sake breweries take many paths. Some refine a single label to perfection; some embrace the ephemeral with seasonal releases; others compete through the sheer magnitude of scale. Fumigiku Sake Brewery, established in 1916 in Toyama City, Toyama Prefecture, departs from these conventional paths. […]

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The Counterintuitive Excellence of NiKo

Redefining ‘Futsū-shu’ at IWC 2026 There are some sakes whose true nature cannot be understood from the label alone. “NiKo,” brewed by Shirataki Sake Brewery｜founded in 1855 in Echigo-Yuzawa, Niigata Prefecture｜is precisely that kind of bottle. Legally, it is classified as “futsū-shu,” or ordinary sake. Yet in 2026, this sake received recognition in the sake […]

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A Parallel Spirit

The Story of Rice Shochu Nurtured in Hitoyoshi-Kuma, Kumamoto Both sake and rice shochu are born from the same ingredient: rice. And yet, their flavors are strikingly different. Sake offers a clear, gentle sweetness, while rice shochu is known for its dry aroma and light, clean finish. The reason such distinct spirits can emerge from […]

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