Announcement of IWC 2026 Award Winners

The 2026 International Wine Challenge (IWC) was held in Hiroshima, where judging took place for a record-breaking number of over 1,700 entries.

There was an open call for brewery judges, and I, Yoshihiro Fujii, had the honor of participating as an "Associate Judge."

The judging method—finding the qualities of the sake through discussions in small groups rather than relying solely on individual assessments—was extremely logical and provided many valuable insights.

I am also grateful to share that two Ryusei items received awards this year.

■ Ryusei Kuro Junmai Daiginjo
Silver Medal

■ Ryusei Yuragi no Nagi
Bronze Medal

Receiving recognition for sake made with additive-free kimoto and house-grown yeast is both a surprise and a significant source of confidence for Fujii Shuzo.

Although we unfortunately fell short of gold, I will apply this experience to my future sake brewing.

We look forward to your continued support.