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Japan Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Japan Times
Tsunan Sake Brewery Launches Limited-Edition 'Yukigesho Castella' Featuring Sake Lees at 'Tsunan Sake Brewery Sunflower Festival 2025'
Tsunan Sake Brewery Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Tsunan Town, Nakauonuma District, Niigata Prefecture; President: Kengo Suzuki, hereinafter 'Tsunan Sake Brewery') has begun selling its new product, Yukigesho Castella, in limited quantities at the venue of 'Tsunan Sake Brewery Sunflower Festival 2025,' which has been held since Friday, August 1, 2025. Yukigesho Castella is a confection that embodies the charm of fermentation culture, made with Tsunan Sake Brewery's sake lees and sake. This elegant treat offers a luxurious and refined flavor, with rich aroma, moist texture, and a gentle hint of white chocolate. It is also presented in special packaging inspired by the blooming sunflower season. This product will only be available during the festival period (August 1–24) while supplies last. We look forward to welcoming visitors to enjoy the flavors of summer in Tsunan, a seasonal tradition brought to life in a sweet form. [Product Information] Product Name: Yukigesho Castella (Baked Confectionery) Ingredients: Rice flour (Hokkaido), eggs (Hokkaido), butter (Hokkaido), powdered sugar, Tsunan Sake Brewery sake lees, white chocolate, Tsunan Sake Brewery sake, baking powder, salt (Contains egg, dairy, soy) Net Weight: 1 piece Nutrition Facts (per package, estimated): Energy 248.4 kcal, Protein 3.68 g, Fat 11.69 g, Carbohydrates 31.85 g, Salt equivalent 0.24 g Price: 550 yen (tax included) Sales Location: Tsunan Sake Brewery (7141 Akinari, Tsunan-machi, Nakauonuma-gun, Niigata 949-8201, Japan) Manufacturer: Les Richesses Co., Ltd. (Hiraoka Koen Higashi 5-1-1, Kiyota-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido) Distributor: Sustainable Y Technologies Co., Ltd. (Sustainable Food Lab 1F, 1-20-10 Nishi-Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo) This cake was developed at the 'Sustainable Food Lab' in the Toranomon area of Nishi-Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo. The facility is one of the hubs of the Food α Project, a city-building initiative for the 'future of food' led by the Urban Renaissance Agency (UR) and partners, serving as a launchpad for innovative sustainable food products by carefully selected startups and companies. Foodα Project website: About Tsunan Sake Brewery Tsunan Sake Brewery Co., Ltd. is a sake brewery located in Tsunan Town, Nakauonuma District, Niigata Prefecture, one of Japan's most renowned heavy snowfall areas. The brewery is known for its sake-making that blends harmony with nature and innovation, using locally grown sake rice such as Gohyakumangoku and Uonuma-grown Koshihikari. In 2025, it won first place and the Niigata Governor's Award at the Echigo-ryu Sake Brewing Technology Championship, a competition recognizing excellence in brewing techniques. Website:
Japan Times
11-08-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
GO GRANDCLASS Uonuma Koshihikari Edition Wins Platinum Award at Milano Sake Challenge 2025
Tsunan Sake Brewery Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Tsunan Town, Nakauonuma District, Niigata Prefecture; President: Kengo Suzuki, hereinafter 'Tsunan Sake Brewery') is pleased to announce that its Junmai Daiginjo sake GO GRANDCLASS Uonuma Koshihikari Edition has been awarded the prestigious Platinum (Platino) Award at the Milano Sake Challenge 2025, held in Milan, Italy. This sake is brewed not with shuzo-kotekimai (brewing-specific rice) traditionally used for sake production, but with the globally renowned table rice 'Uonuma Koshihikari.' Winning the highest award after rigorous evaluation by sommeliers overseas, despite being made from table rice, is an exceptionally rare achievement. Evaluation at the Milano Sake Challenge GO GRANDCLASS Uonuma Koshihikari Edition was praised for its 'complex harmony of white fruits, melon, lychee, and peach aromas, with floral notes and the sweetness of rice spreading in the mouth.' Its well-balanced medium sweetness, umami, and long finish stood out, with keywords such as 'balanced and complex,' 'elegance, purity, persistence, and category expression' highlighted by the judges. The sake was also highly regarded for its compatibility with Italian ingredients such as Parmigiano Reggiano and prosciutto, showcasing the potential for a unique fusion of Japanese and Western terroirs. Objective Evaluation by AI Analysis The sake was also analyzed using the AI-based sensory evaluation system 'ProfilePrint' introduced by Nomura Jimusho Co., Ltd., which identified its distinctive 'high freshness and restrained bitterness.' The Platinum Award result aligns closely with this objective AI evaluation. A New Terroir Born from Table Rice Tsunan Sake Brewery has focused on the terroir of Tsunan Town—a heavy-snow region adjacent to Minamiuonuma—and the potential of the local resource, Uonuma Koshihikari rice, in developing the GO GRANDCLASS series. The umami, aroma, and excellent food compatibility unique to table rice have been increasingly recognized both domestically and internationally as an expression of regional terroir in sake. Future Outlook Following this award, Tsunan Sake Brewery plans to further expand the global reach of GO GRANDCLASS Uonuma Koshihikari Edition. The product was already highly acclaimed in Singapore, selling out at the country's largest sake event, 'Sake Matsuri Singapore 2024.' Moving forward, the brewery will make proposals tailored to local food cultures in each country. Product Information Name: GO GRANDCLASS Uonuma Koshihikari Edition Rice Variety: 100% Uonuma Koshihikari Alcohol Content: 16% Polishing Ratio: 50% Volume: 720ml / Gift Box Included Brewery: Tsunan Sake Brewery Co., Ltd. (Tsunan Town, Nakauonuma District, Niigata Prefecture) About the Milano Sake Challenge The Milano Sake Challenge is an international sake competition held annually in Milan, Italy, since 2019. With the mission of 'supporting sake breweries that take on the world,' it aims to convey the diversity and cultural background of sake while promoting the possibilities of pairing with Italian cuisine. Judging evaluates sake from multiple perspectives, including aroma, flavor, appearance, and food pairing compatibility. The 2025 event—the 5th edition—was held on June 23–24 at the NHOW Hotel in Milan, with over 200 expert judges participating. About Tsunan Sake Brewery Tsunan Sake Brewery Co., Ltd. is a sake brewery based in Tsunan Town, Nakauonuma District, Niigata Prefecture—one of Japan's most renowned heavy snowfall areas. The brewery produces sake using locally grown rice varieties such as 'Gohyakumangoku' and 'Uonuma Koshihikari,' characterized by a brewing style that blends harmony with nature and innovation. In 2025, the brewery won the Niigata Governor's Award (1st place) at the Echigo-style Sake Brewing Technology Championship, a competition evaluating brewing skills. Website:
