Judging Results

2014 U.S. National Sake Appraisal
Summary and Results

Dates: July 15–16, 2014
Place: Hawaiʻi Convention Center, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi

Participating Judges

Todd Eng Manager, Corkage (San Francisco Liquor Store)
Yukio Hamada Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association
Hisashi Fukuda National Research Institute of Brewing
Chris Johnson Sake Educator
Glenn Kawahara U.S. Sake Sensory Appraisal Seminar Graduate
Kazuo Masaki National Research Institute of Brewing
Naoto Okazaki Brewing Society of Japan
Ritsushi Ohdoi Hiroshima Prefectural Technology Research Institute, Food Technology Research Center
Masahiro Takeda Wine of Japan Import, Inc.
Ikuko Yasui Oboshi Okamura Co., Ltd.

Emerald Award

A tally of the number of gold and silver awards won by each brewery has been kept since the first Appraisal in 2001. Every year the brewery with the largest number of cumulative awards, and which has not received the award previously, is presented with the Emerald Award.

Prize Brewery Prefecture
Emerald Award Saiya Shuzoten Akita

Grand Prix Awards

Entries with the highest score in each category received a Grand Prix award for that category. The two entries with the next highest scores received Second Grand Prix awards in each category.

Daiginjo A

Prize Brewery Prefecture Label
Grand Prix Wada Shuzo Yamagata “Meito Gassanmaru” Shizukutori Genshu Daiginjo
Second Grand Prix Momokawa Aomori Momokawa “Daiginjo Junmai”
Azuma no Fumoto Shuzo Yamagata Azuma no Fumoto “Daiginjo”

Daiginjo B

Prize Brewery Prefecture Label
Grand Prix Okunomatsu Shuzo Fukushima Okunomatsu “Sakura Daiginjo”
Second Grand Prix Momokawa Aomori Momokawa “Daiginjo”
Kamenoi Shuzo Yamagata Kudoki Jozu “Aiyama” Junmai Daiginjo

Ginjo

Prize Brewery Prefecture Label
Grand Prix Dewazakura Shuzo Yamagata Dewazakura “Oka Ginjo Yamadanishiki”
Dewazakura Shuzo Yamagata Dewazakura “Oka” Ginjo
Second Grand Prix Okunomatsu Shuzo Fukushima Okunomatsu “Adatara Ginjo”

Junmai

Prize Brewery Prefecture Label
Grand Prix Myoko Shuzo Niigata “Château Myoko”
Second Grand Prix Kawakei Shoten Miyagi Koganesawa “Yamahai Junmai”
Nanbu Bijin Iwate Nanbu Bijin “Tokubetsu Junmaishu”

Daiginjo A Polishing ratio 40% or less

Brewery Label Prefecture Award
Akita Seishu Kariho "Kaei" Akita Gold
Asahi Shuzo Dassai "Migaki Niwari Sanbu" (Dassai 23) Yamaguchi Gold
Azuma no Fumoto Shuzo Azuma no Fumoto "Daiginjo" Yamagata Gold
Dewazakura Shuzo Dewazakura "Daiginjo" Yamagata Gold
Fumigiku Shuzo Haneya "Daiginjo" Toyama Gold
Hakutsuru Shuzo Hakutsuru "Junmai Daiginjo Genshu Hakutsurunishiki" Hyogo Gold
Hakutsuru Shuzo Hakutsuru "Junmai Daiginjo Genshu Yamadanishiki" Hyogo Gold
Hakutsuru Shuzo Hakutsuru "Daiginjo Genshu Yamadanishiki" Hyogo Gold
Ishimoto Shuzo Koshi no Kanbai "Chotokusen" Niigata Gold
Kato Kichibee Shoten Born "Yume wa Masayume" (Born: Dreams Come True) Fukui Gold
Kikuisami Kikuisami "Hiden" Daiginjo  Yamagata Gold
Koimari Shuzo Koimari "Saki" Junmai Daiginjo Saga Gold
Miyasaka Jozo Masumi "Yumedono" Daiginjo Nagano Gold
Momokawa Momokawa "Daiginjo Junmai" Aomori Gold
Nanbu Shuzojo "Kyukyoku no Hanagaki" Fukui Gold
Okunomatsu Shuzo Okunomatsu "Junmai Daiginjo" Fukushima Gold
Okunomatsu Shuzo Daiginjo Shizukusake "Juhachidai Ihee" Fukushima Gold
Seitoku Meijo Seitoku "Daiginjo" Gunma Gold
Shimizu Seizaburo Shoten Suzukagawa "Junmai Daiginjo Migaki Yonwari"  Mie Gold
Suzuki Shuzoten "Shuppinshu Matsuemon" Daiginjo Akita Gold
Tentaka Shuzo Tentaka "Ginsho" Junmai Daiginjo Tochigi Gold
Tenzan Shuzo "Hitenzan" Daiginjo Saga Gold
Uchigasaki Shuzoten Hoyo "Yamadanishiki Daiginjo" Miyagi Gold
Wada Shuzo "Meito Gassanmaru" Shizukutori Genshu Daiginjo  Yamagata Gold
Gensui Shuzo Gensui "Daiginjo" Tottori Silver
Goto Shuzojo Seiun "Junmai Daiginjo" Mie Silver
Hakutsuru Shuzo Hakutsuru "Daiginjo Genshu Hakutsurunishiki" Hyogo Silver
Harada Shuzojo Sansha "Aberia" Daiginjo Gifu Silver
Hokusetsu Shuzo Hokusetsu "Koshitanrei" Junmai Daiginjo Niigata Silver
Hokusetsu Shuzo Hokusetsu "YK35" Daiginjo Niigata Silver
Imazato Shuzo Rokujuyoshu "Junmai Daginjo" Nagasaki Silver
Ippongi Kubo Honten "Ippo" Fukui Silver
Ishimoto Shuzo Koshi no Kanbai "Kinmuku" Niigata Silver
Kamotsuru Shuzo Kamotsuru "Sokaku" Daiginjo Hiroshima Silver
Kato Kichibee Shoten Born "Tokusen" Junmai Daiginjo Fukui Silver
Kato Kichibee Shoten Born "Nihon no Tsubasa" (Born: Wing of Japan) Fukui Silver
Kitaya Soden "Junmai Daiginjo" Fukuoka Silver
Kodama Jozo Taiheizan "Tenko" Akita Silver
Koimari Shuzo Koimari "Saki" Daiginjo Saga Silver
Kuge Honten Kurokui "Daiginjo" Oita Silver
Nanbu Bijin Nanbu Bijin "Daiginjo" Iwate Silver
Rokkasen Temahima "Junmai Daiginjo" Yamagata Silver
Sakuramasamune Sakuramasamune "Oka Ichirin" Daiginjo Hyogo Silver
Shindo Shuzoten Gasanryu "Gokugetsu" Yamagata Silver
Shinozaki  Kunigiku "Junmai Daiginjo" Fukuoka Silver
Tanabe Shuzo Echizen Misaki "Daiginjo Gin no Shizuku" Fukui Silver
Tonoike Shuzoten Sanran "Daiginjo Shizukuzake" Tochigi Silver
Wakanoi Shuzo Wakanoi "Kanjikomi Daiginjo" Yamagata Silver
Yamagata Honten "Moriko" Yamaguchi Silver
Yoshida Shuzoten Tedorigawa "Iki na Onna" Daiginjo Ishikawa Silver

Daiginjo B Polishing ratio 50% or less

Brewery Label Prefecture Award
Dewazakura Shuzo Dewazakura "Aiyama" Junmai Daiginjo Yamagata Gold
Dewazakura Shuzo Dewazakura "Ichiro" Junmai Daiginjo Yamagata Gold
Gassan Shuzo Gassan "Daiginjo" Yamagata Gold
Gassan Shuzo Gassan "Junmai Daiginjo" (Gentei Jozo) Yamagata Gold
Goto Shuzoten Benten "Junmai Daiginjo Genshu Dewasansan" Yamagata Gold
Kamenoi Shuzo Kudoki Jozu "Aiyama" Junmai Daiginjo Yamagata Gold
Kato Kahachiro Shuzo Oyama "Zuisho" Junmai Daiginjo Yamagata Gold
Kato Kichibee Shoten Born "Gold" Fukui Gold
Masuda Tokubee Shoten Tsuki no Katsura "Heiankyo" Kyoto Gold
Momokawa Momokawa "Daiginjo" Aomori Gold
Okunomatsu Shuzo Okunomatsu "Sakura Daiginjo" Fukushima Gold
Otokoyama Honten Sotenden "Junmai Daiginjo" Miyagi Gold
Saiya Shuzoten Yuki no Bosha "Daiginjo" Akita Gold
Saura Urakasumi "Yamadanishiki Junmai Daiginjo" Miyagi Gold
Shimizu Seizaburo Shoten Zaku "Miyabi no Tomo" Nakadori Mie Gold
Shirakabegura, Takara Shuzo Shochikubai Shirakabegura "Daiginjo Muroka Genshu" Hyogo Gold
Tanabe Shuzo Echizen Misaki "Daiginjo" Fukui Gold
Tohoku Meijo Hatsumago "Shozui" Junmai Daiginjo Yamagata Gold
Tonoike Shuzoten Sanran "Junmai Daiginjo" Tochigi Gold
Watarai Honten Dewanoyuki "Daiginjo" Yamagata Gold
Yoneda Shuzo Toyo no Aki "Tobindori" Daiginjo Shimane Gold
Fukuchiyo Shuzo Nabeshima "Aiyama" Junmai Daiginjo Saga Silver
Hamachidori Hamachidori "Gingingashikomi" Junmai Daiginjo Iwate Silver
Matsumoto Shuzo "Rissimo" Kyoto Silver
Miyasaka Jozo Masumi "Sanka" Junmai Daiginjo Nagano Silver
Murashige Shuzo Hinoshitamuso "Junmai Daiginjo" Yamaguchi Silver
Nagai Shuzo Mizubasho "Junmai Daiginjo" Gunma Silver
Nagurayama Shuzo Nagurayama "Daiginjo" Fukushima Silver
Nanbu Bijin Nanbu Bijin "Shinpaku" Junmai Daiginjo Iwate Silver
Ninki Shuzo Ninkiichi "Gold Ninki Junmai Daiginjo" Fukushima Silver
Nishida Shuzoten Nishida "Denshu Yonwarigobu" Junmai Daiginjo  Aomori Silver
Shindo Shuzoten Gasanryu "Kisaragi" Yamagata Silver
Uchigasaki Shuzoten Hoyo "Kura no Hana" Junmai Daiginjo Miyagi Silver

Ginjo

Brewery Label Prefecture Award
Aoki Shuzo Kakurei "Junmai Ginjo" Niigata Gold
Asahi Shuzo Esshu "Satomomiji" Niigata Gold
Dewazakura Shuzo Dewazakura "Omachi" Junmai Ginjo Yamagata Gold
Dewazakura Shuzo Dewazakura "Oka Ginjo Yamadanishiki" Yamagata Gold
Dewazakura Shuzo Dewazakura "Dewasansan" Junmai Ginjo Yamagata Gold
Dewazakura Shuzo Dewazakura "Oka" Ginjo Yamagata Gold
Eiko Shuzo Shusen Eiko "Junmai Ginjo 50" Ehime Gold
Fumigiku Shuzo Haneya "Kirabi" Junmai Ginjo Toyama Gold
Goto Shuzojo Seiun "Hayate Kami no Ho" Junmai Ginjo Mie Gold
Imazato Shuzo Rokujuyoshu "Junmai Ginjo Yamadanishiki" Nagasaki Gold
Ishimoto Shuzo Koshi no Kanbai "Tokusen" Niigata Gold
Kaba Shuzojo Shiramayumi "Hida no Ginjo Shikomi" Gifu Gold
Koimari Shuzo Koimari "Saki" Junmai Ginjo Saga Gold
Kubiki Shuzo Hakkei Kubiki "Ginjo" Niigata Gold
Miyao Shuzo Shimeharitsuru "Jun" Niigata Gold
Momokawa "Sugidama" Ginjo Junmai Aomori Gold
Myoko Shuzo Koshi no Setsugekka "Junmai Ginjo" Niigata Gold
Nagurayama Shuzo "Yokikana" Junmai Ginjo Fukushima Gold
Okunomatsu Shuzo Okunomatsu "Adatara Ginjo" Fukushima Gold
Rokkasen Yamahoshi "Junmai Ginjo" Yamagata Gold
Saiya Shuzoten Yuki no Bosha "Junmai Ginjo" Akita Gold
Seitoku Meijo Seitoku "Ginjo" Gunma Gold
Suishin Yamane Honten Suishin "Tokusen Junmai Ginjoshu" Hiroshima Gold
Takeda Shuzoten Katafune "Junmai Ginjo" Niigata Gold
Tenzan Shuzo Shichida "Junmai Ginjo" Saga Gold
Tokoyama Shuzo Jozan "Banshu Yamadanishiki" Junmai Ginjo Fukui Gold
Chiyokotobuki Toraya Chiyokotobuki "Junmai Ginjo" Yamagata Silver
Gassan Shuzo Gassan "Gassan no Yuki" Junmai Ginjo Yamagata Silver
Gochoda Shuzo Azumaichi "Yamadanishiki Junmai Ginjo" Saga Silver
Iinuma Honke Kinoene "Yuga" Junmai Ginjo Chiba Silver
Imanishi Seibei Shoten Harushika "Junmai Ginjo Genshu" Nara Silver
Ishimoto Shuzo Koshi no Kanbai "Muku" Niigata Silver
Kasumitsuru Kasumitsuru "Yamahai Ginjo Junmai" Hyogo Silver
Kato Kichibee Shoten Born "Tokishirazu" Fukui Silver
Kinshi Masamune Kinshi Masamune "Junmai Ginjo" Kyoto Silver
Kitaya Soden "Junmai Ginjo" Fukuoka Silver
Kobe Shushinkan Fukuju "Junmai Ginjo" Hyogo Silver
Kojima Sohonten Toko "Ginjo" Yamagata Silver
Masuda Shuzoten Masuizumi "Junmai Ginjo" Toyama Silver
Miyasaka Jozo Masumi "Kippuku Kinju" Junmai Ginjo Nagano Silver
Momokawa Momokawa "Ginjo Junmai" Aomori Silver
Nagayama Honke Shuzojo Taka "Junmai Ginjo Yamadanishiki" Yamaguchi Silver
Nakao Jozo Seikyo "Junmai Ginjo Omachi" Hiroshima Silver
Ninki Shuzo Ninkiichi "Kuroninki Junmai Ginjo" Fukushima Silver
Sakuramasamune Sakuramasamune "Kinmare" Junmai Ginjo Hyogo Silver
Saura Urakasumi "Zen" Junmai Ginjo Miyagi Silver
Sekiya Jozo "Wa" Junmai Ginjo Aichi Silver
Shimizu Seizaburo Shoten Ise no Hana Mie Silver
Takara Sake USA Inc. Shochikubai "Rei" Junmai Ginjo Namachozo California Silver
Tenju Shuzo Tenju "Junmai Ginjo" Akita Silver
Watanabe Shuzoten Horai "Dento Karakuchi" Ginjo Gifu Silver
Yano Shuzo "Hizen Kuragokoro" Junmai Ginjo Saga Silver
Yoneda Shuzo Toyo no Aki "Sakanishiki Genshu" Junmai Ginjo Shimane Silver

Junmai

Brewery Label Prefecture Award
Asamai Shuzo Ama no To "Umashine" Tokubetsu Junmaishu Akita Gold
Chiyomusubi Shuzo Chiyomusubi "Tokubetsu Junmai" Tottori Gold
Dewazakura Shuzo Dewazakura "Ikko" Yamagata Gold
Hatsukame Jozo Hatsukame "Okabemaru" Junmai Shizuoka Gold
Kakuboshi "Mizutoriki Daiissho" Miyagi Gold
Kato Kichibee Shoten Born "Junmai 55" Fukui Gold
Kato Kichibee Shoten Born "Ginsen" Tokubetsu Junmaishu Fukui Gold
Kawakei Shoten Koganesawa "Yamahai Junmai" Miyagi Gold
Kikuisami Kikuisami "Dewanosato Sanjurokuninshu" Yamagata Gold
Kitaya Soden "Yamahai Jikomi" Tokubetsu Junmaishu Fukuoka Gold
Kobe Shushinkan Fukuju "Mikagego" Junmaishu Hyogo Gold
Miyasaka Jozo Miyasaka "Yawaraka Junmai" Nagano Gold
Murashige Shuzo Hinoshitamuso "Junmaishu" Yamaguchi Gold
Myoko Shuzo Myokosan "Tokubetsu Junmai" Niigata Gold
Myoko Shuzo "Château Myoko" Niigata Gold
Nagayama Honke Shuzojo Taka "Tokubetsu Junmai" Yamaguchi Gold
Nanbu Bijin Nanbu Bijin "Tokubetsu Junmaishu" Iwate Gold
Okuizumo Shuzo Okuizumo "Junmaishu" Shimane Gold
Okunomatsu Shuzo Okunomatsu "Tokubetsu Junmai" Fukushima Gold
Saiya Shuzoten Yuki no Bosha "Yamahai Junmai" Akita Gold
Shimizu Seizaburo Shoten Zaku "Gen no Tomo" Mie Gold
Shindo Shuzoten Ura Gasanryu "Fuka" Yamagata Gold
Takeno Shuzo Yasakatsuru "Kamenookurabu 2013" Kyoto Gold
Yumegokoro Shuzo "Naraman" Muroka Binhiire Junmaishu Fukushima Gold
Asahi Shuzo Asahiyama "Junmaishu" Niigata Silver
Gekkeikan Sake (USA), Inc. Gekkeikan "Black & Gold" California Silver
Goto Shuzoten Benten "Tokubetsu Junmai Genshu Dewa no Sato" Yamagata Silver
Imanishi Seibei Shoten Harushika "Umakuchi Yodanshikomi Junmaishu" Nara Silver
Imayotsukasa Shuzo "Tennensuijikomi Junmaishu" Niigata Silver
Kasumitsuru Kasumitsuru "Kimoto Junmai" Hyogo Silver
Kato Kahachiro Shuzo Oyama "Tomizu" Tokubetsu Junmaishu Yamagata Silver
Koimari Shuzo Koimari "Saki" Zenryo Yamadanishiki Junmaishu Saga Silver
Kojima Sohonten Toko "Junmai" Yamagata Silver
Kotobuki Toraya Shuzo Kajokotobuki "Junmai" Yamagata Silver
Mitsutake Shuzojo Mitsutake "Tezukuri Junmaishu"  Saga Silver
Momokawa "Nebuta Tanrei Junmai" Aomori Silver
Myoko Shuzo Koshi no Setsugekka "Junmai" Niigata Silver
Niizawa Jozoten Atago no Matsu "Tokubetsu Junmai Sasanishiki" Miyagi Silver
Niizawa Jozoten Hakurakusei "Tokubetsu Junmaishu" Miyagi Silver
Sakai Shuzo Gokyo "Kiokezukuri" Kimoto Junmaishu Yamaguchi Silver
Saura Urakasumi "Junmaishu" Miyagi Silver
Sekiya Jozo "Beshi" Tokubetsu Junmai Aichi Silver
Shirakabegura, Takara Shuzo Shochikubai Shirakabegura "Kimoto Junmai" Hyogo Silver
Sohomare Shuzo Sohomare "Tokubetsu Kimoto" Tochigi Silver
Tenju Shuzo Tenju "Junmaishu" Akita Silver
Tsukasabotan Shuzo "Senchu Hassaku" Kochi Silver
Yoneda Shuzo Toyo no Aki "Suzume to Inaho" Tokubetsu Junmai Shimane Silver

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