1.9.2025_BORN Pairing Dinner at OKURA CRUISE

The event will be held on 1.9.2025.

■　BORN First Snow
— Whisper of Winter’s Dawn —

BORN “First Snow” Nama Genshu captures the hush of Fukui’s first snowfall. Crafted by Kato Kichibee Shoten (est. 1860; “Born” derives from the Sanskrit for “pure truth”), it is pressed only once each winter, then bottled unpasteurized and undiluted while the milky, snow-like lees remain suspended in the liquid.
Made from Yamada Nishiki rice polished to 35%, it offers a velvety body, yet the palate stays crystalline, with notes of ripe peach, wild strawberry, and rice-cream-like umami dissolving into a bracingly clean finish. Collectors prize this strictly limited nigori—an annual blend of the brewery’s award-winning “Wing of Japan” and trophy-winning sake “Ginsen,” celebrated as a once-a-year masterpiece.

■　BORN Gold
— Patience in Perfection —

A silky, unfiltered Junmai Daiginjo brewed from 100% Yamada Nishiki rice from Hyogo and matured for a full year at −10°C in the brewery’s purpose-built ice-temperature cellar. Satin-soft yet full-bodied, it opens with cool rice sweetness, layered umami, and a gentle ginjo bouquet.
Its pedigree is proven: Gold at the 2019 International Sake Challenge (ISC), Champion Sake of China 2019, Platinum at the 2020 Kura Master, and Gold at the 2020 International Wine Challenge (IWC). Born has even been served at imperial banquets, epitomizing Japanese refinement on the global stage. One drop carries 160 years of Fukui craft, where samurai-era heritage meets modern precision—a year’s patience crystallized in every clear drop.

■ BORN Ginsen
— Timeless Grace in Every Drop —

BORN Ginsen embodies the refined elegance and subtle complexity of premium sake. Crafted by the esteemed Kato Kichibee Shoten brewery, established in 1860 in Fukui Prefecture, it is made from renowned Yamada Nishiki rice, prized among sake brewers. Its delicate ginjo aroma carries gentle hints of orchard fruit, leading to a smooth, refreshing palate with nuanced layers of umami and a pristine finish.
Internationally acclaimed, Ginsen won the prestigious Champion Sake award at the 2010 International Wine Challenge (IWC), as well as Gold Medals at the 2014 and 2015 U.S. National Sake Appraisal, the 2019 San Francisco International Wine Competition, and the 2021 Kura Master. It stands as a testament to the harmony and elegance that define Fukui’s sake heritage.

■　BORN Dreams come true
— Five Years to Forever —

BORN Dreams Come True Junmai Daiginjo is the ultimate expression of craftsmanship from Kato Kichibee Shoten, established in 1860 in Fukui Prefecture. Crafted with premium Yamada Nishiki rice from Hyogo’s elite Special-A district and aged meticulously at −10°C for five years, it reveals profound complexity and depth.
Blended from sake polished to 20% and 35%, it presents a harmonious balance—smooth and mellow, rich in umami, and finishing crisp and clean, reminiscent of a finely honed blade. Its captivating aroma offers deep, sophisticated layers. Internationally acclaimed, it has received accolades including 92 points from Robert Parker Wine Advocate, Gold at the 2023 San Francisco International Wine Competition (SFIWC), Gold at the 2024 Monaco Sake Competition, and Gold at the 2025 CINVE.

■　BORN Chogin
— Purity Worthy of a Throne —

Crafted in Fukui, this Junmai Daiginjo is made exclusively from contract-grown Yamada Nishiki rice cultivated in Hyogo’s revered “Special A” paddies and polished to 20%. After brewing, it rests at −10°C for five years, developing aromas of ripe melon, pineapple, and delicate white blossom.
The palate reveals nuanced sweetness with a silky umami core, finishing impeccably clean. Awarded 93 points by Robert Parker Wine Advocate and recognized in the Michelin Guide, Chogin has been poured at imperial banquets and international state dinners.
The brewery pioneered sub-zero maturation in 1936 to create sake worthy of royal ceremonies—an innovation that continues to define the Born style. Savor 160 years of Japanese craftsmanship in every drop.

■　BORN Yuzu
— Citrus Elegance in Every Sip —

BORN Yuzu offers a refined fusion of traditional Japanese sake craftsmanship and the vibrant essence of yuzu, Japan’s iconic citrus. Expertly crafted by the renowned Kato Kichibee Shoten brewery, established in 1860 in Fukui Prefecture, it captures the fragrant aroma and invigorating flavor of premium yuzu, seamlessly blended with the brewery’s award-winning sake.
This delicately balanced sake liqueur delivers bright, zesty citrus notes wrapped in a subtle, elegant sweetness, finishing crisp and refreshing. Ideal as an aperitif, a palate cleanser between courses, or a refreshing finale to a meal, BORN Yuzu embodies the brewery’s spirit of innovation while honoring time-honored tradition—a unique tasting experience that lingers with graceful freshness.