Announcing the highest award for 2024 Japanese sake, authentic shochu and awamori selected in France
Kura Master Press release: October 2, 2024 Announcing the highest awards for 2024 for Japanese sake, authentic shochu and awamori selected in France 8th Kura Master Sake/Honkaku Shochu/Awamori Competition
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Representative: Keiichiro Miyagawa) will hold the Kura Master 2024 Sake Competition at the residence of the Japanese Ambassador to France at 14:00 on October 2, 2024 (21:00 on the 2nd Japan time). We also announced the President’s Award, which is the highest award in each of the Honkaku Shochu and Awamori competitions. At the sake competition, Konishi Sake Brewery Co., Ltd. (Hyogo Prefecture) “Cho-Tokusen Shirayuki Itami Morohaku Daiginjo” won the highest award, the President’s Award, out of 1,223 brands in 6 categories. Additionally, at the Honkaku Shochu/Awamori Competition, out of 197 brands in 8 categories, Matsufuji Co., Ltd. (Okinawa Prefecture)’s “Matsufuji Coarse Filtration 44 Degrees” won this year’s President’s Award. Previously, at Kura Master, sommeliers judged sake and barmen judged authentic shochu and awamori, but this year we are breaking down those barriers and have sommeliers judge authentic shochu and awamori, while barmen also judge sake. The examination was conducted by 123 professionals, including 9 M.O.F. (French National Best Craftsmen). [Kura Master 2024 Sake Competition President Award (center)] Konishi Sake Brewery Co., Ltd. (Hyogo Prefecture) “Super Special Shirayuki Itami Morohaku Daiginjo”
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/35460/31/35460-31-8c89cfee947336d3b1697563596dccda-887×443.png Kura Master 2024 Sake Competition President’s Award (center) and 5 judges’ awards in each category [Kura Master 2024 Authentic
Shochu/Awamori Competition President Award (center)] Matsufuji Co., Ltd. (Okinawa Prefecture) “Matsufuji Coarse Filtration 44 degrees”
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/35460/31/35460-31-86aaf9e43a2b8dbeb008006ac52b5ff2-887×443.png Kura Master 2024 Authentic Shochu/Awamori Competition President’s Award (center) and 7 judges’ awards in each category [Plum wine contest judge award] At this year’s second umeshu competition, Eikawa Sake Brewery Co., Ltd. (Fukushima Prefecture) “UMESAKE 8 Year Aged”, which was selected for the judges’ prize among the brands that made it to the second round of judging, was recognized at the award ceremony.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/35460/31/35460-31-c211c5e5b61229f966033ab21132dfe2-652×435.png Umeshu contest judge award [Alliance Gastronomy Award Award] “Tengumai Yamahai Shikomi Junmai Sake” by Kurumata Sake Brewery Co., Ltd. (Ishikawa Prefecture) was selected for the “Alliance Gastronomy Award”, a special award that evaluates pairing with food, which was held for the third time this year, and the award ceremony was held. An award was given at the. This time, we evaluated the compatibility between sake in the classic moto category and charcuterie (a general term for processed meat foods such as ham and sausage), which is a traditional French daily food. This charcuterie was prepared by Romain Leboeuf, who holds the M.O.F. in the meat department and also served as a special judge.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/35460/31/35460-31-485de5060576a1b7a7263845279c9a9e-2657×1772.jpg At the award ceremony on the 2nd, the special award “Alliance Gastronomy Award” winning sake and Mr. Romain Leboeuf My expertise ranges from cutting meat to cooking, and more broadly, French cuisine. As you can imagine, I am more familiar with wine than with sake. However, when I was asked to participate in Kura Master, I thought it would be a good opportunity to discover new products and try new combinations of French meats and charcuterie with Japanese sake. And I realized that they actually work surprisingly well together! I hope you enjoy my products as much as I enjoyed my sake. [Award ceremony summary] This year’s award ceremony was held at the residence of the Japanese Ambassador to France, just like last year. After the opening remarks by Xavier Thuizat, Chairman of the Jury, and remarks by Mr. Kenjiro Moji, Honorary Chairman of Kura Master, we received a greeting from Makita Shimokawa, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to France. Afterwards, the winning brewers were presented with the “Jury Award”, and the special award of the “Alliance Gastronomy Award” was awarded directly to the winning brewers by Mr. Romain Leboeuf, who served as the special judge. Finally, the President’s Award, the highest award in the Sake Contest and the Honkaku Shochu/Awamori Contest, was announced, and the winning breweries were presented with certificates and trophies. This year’s award ceremony was attended by Yudai Kano, Ambassador of the Permanent Mission of Japan to UNESCO, and more judges than in previous years were present, giving greetings and presenting trophies, making the ceremony even more spectacular. More judges than usual attended and were involved in the greetings and awarding of trophies, making the ceremony even more spectacular. [Evaluation comments from the chairman of the judging committee about the President Award-winning sake] “This sake has a pale yellow color with silvery undertones, and is full of sparkle and elegance.As a modern sake, it has exotic aromas of yuzu peel, green apple, dried botanicals, and freshly cut wood. The aroma is rich and complex, with hay and delicate spices like white pepper, creating a vibrant and lively energy. As the wine ages, its presence gradually increases in the mouth, giving it a smooth and delicate texture, with a long aftertaste that also has hints of pear and dried rose buds. It is extremely complex and has many elements that work together in perfect harmony, making it a chameleon that pairs wonderfully with many dishes. If I were to pick a dish, I would especially recommend pairing it with a scallop dish. ” Sake Competition Jury Chairman Xavier Thuizat “The reason I chose this product was the surprise and excitement I felt when I tasted it blindfolded.It was as if I had been taken to a different world and my heart was shaken. It is an alcoholic beverage that has received high acclaim.We are delighted that Mr. Matsufuji’s wonderful work will be recognized through this award, and at the same time, we would like to highlight the unique spirit of Okinawa’s awamori, which has its roots as Japan’s oldest distilled spirit. I am honored to have been chosen. Although this awamori is not necessarily your typical awamori, it is a great example of the versatility of the spirit. You can enjoy a variety of flavors such as umami, woody aroma, and mushroom aroma. It’s really amazing. ” Honkaku Shochu/Awamori Competition Jury Chairman Christophe Davoine Appendix [Greetings from Ambassador Shimokawa, Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary of Japan to France] (Excerpt) I am very pleased that we were able to hold the Kura Master Award Ceremony at the official residence, as we did last year. In May, I had the opportunity to attend the judging panel for the first time, and was reminded once again that this competition is based on serious and selective judging by top sommeliers from all over the world. I personally serve many Japanese alcoholic beverages at dinner parties at this official residence, and even if the food is French, many French guests continue to drink Japanese sake instead of wine until the end of the meal. It’s becoming more and more. Thanks to Kura Master’s daily efforts, we are confident that the number of Japanese alcohol lovers is steadily increasing in this French region. [Reference information] ・About M.O.F. Meilleur Ouvrier de France *The abbreviation “M.O.F.” (French National Best Craftsman) is a title awarded to craftsmen with advanced skills who are worthy of being the best inheritors of French culture. ・What is Kura Master? This is a sake competition for French people held in France since 2017. The judges were mainly French and European people, including holders of the M.O.F., which the French state certifies as the highest level of craftsmanship, as well as top sommeliers, barmen, and carvisers from top French hotels, as well as restaurants, hotels, and cooking schools. It is made up of related parties and other professionals in the food and beverage industry. Starting in 2021, we have newly established the Honkaku Shochu/Awamori Competition and expanded the scope of competition. [Number of awards in each competition category]
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/35460/31/35460-31-53b7bd53892de498b6ad5e1459086f6d-820×625.png Number of awards by category in each competition *Please refer to the official website for details on the award-winning sake and judges’ backgrounds. [List of Japanese sake competition winning sake/judges] https://kuramaster.com/ja/concours/comite-2024/laureats/
https://kuramaster.com/ja/concours/comite-2024/jury/ [Authentic Shochu/Awamori Contest Award-Winning Sake/List of Judges]
https://kuramaster.com/ja/shochu-awamori/concours/comite-2024/laureats/ https://kuramaster.com/ja/shochu-awamori/concours/comite-2024/jury/ [Organizer information] Sponsored by: Kura Master Association (Association de Kura Master) 9 Rue des Capucines, 75001 Paris Sponsored by: Embassy of Japan in France, Paris Sommelier Association, Council for Local Government and International Relations Paris Office (Claire Paris), JETRO Paris Office, Japan National Tourism
Organization (JNTO) Paris Office Diamond Sponsor: AWA Sake
Association, Gifu Prefecture Sake Brewers Association, Maisons Richard, Long-term Aging Sake Study Group, Saga Prefecture Crystal sponsors: Hyogo Prefecture, Kagoshima Prefecture Sake Brewery Association, Kochi Prefecture, Okayama Prefecture, PASONA Agricultural Entai Cooperation: Le Pain de Tharshan, ECCE GUSTO, GLASSBACCA, GUBI GUBI, Hakata Sugaya, ISMAC, Japan Airlines, L’ARBRE A CAFE, Campus de la Gastronomie Durable Belliard, Lycee Hôtelier François Rabelais Dugny, Lycee des Metiers de l’Hôtellerie, de la Gestion et du Commerce – Santos Dumont, Restaurant Okuda, Philippe Jamesse, Fromagerie Quatrehomme, Artisan Boucher Romain Leboeuf, Shibanuma Soy Sauce Brewing Co., Ltd., KAWAI France, SommelierS INTERNATIONAL, Sydonios, Thonon, VALS Supporting members: EURO JAPAN CROSSING, Atelier du Sake, GALERIE K PARIS, ISSE ET CIE, H.I.S., JFC France, KIOKO, la Maison du Sake, TAKUMI SPIRIT, UMAMI, We Want Sake.com [Contact information for this matter] Kura Master Public Relations: Rinko Pekon (France), Asaoka (Japan) MAIL: press@kuramaster.com TEL: 33 (0)6 60 69 72 52