【Breaking News】Shichiken Sparkling Sake Takes the World's Top Honor at Kura Master 2026

We are delighted to announce that "Shichiken Sparkling Hoshi no Kagayaki" has won the President's Award, the highest honor at the very top of the sake competition, at Kura Master 2026, held in Paris, France.
Kura Master was founded in 2017, and this is the first time in its history that a sparkling sake has received the President's Award in the sake competition.

Kura Master is judged by French sommeliers and restaurant and hotel professionals. It was founded in 2017 as "a sake competition by the French, for the French," and 2026 marked its 10th edition. This year's competition was held at Le Pavillon Ledoyen in Paris. Approximately 125 judges took part, including sommeliers holding the title of Meilleur Ouvrier de France (MOF) and professionals from five-star hotels and three-Michelin-star restaurants. Together they evaluated a total of 1,252 entries across four competitions, including sake, and 21 categories.
Each competition presents a single President's Award, its highest honor, chosen by the president of the jury. In the sake competition, which has nine categories, the judging comes down to that one award. Below the President's Award come the Jury's Award for the top entry in each category, followed by the Platinum Award and the Gold Award for high-ranking entries.
Since the competition was founded, the President's Award in the sake competition has gone to entries from categories such as junmai, junmai daiginjo and daiginjo. Until now, no entry from the Sake Sparkling category had reached the President's Award, the pinnacle of the entire sake competition.
"Shichiken Sparkling Hoshi no Kagayaki" has now broken through that barrier. Becoming the first sparkling sake to receive the President's Award holds great meaning for Shichiken.
Kura Master and the International Wine Challenge (IWC) are the two competitions that have led the international recognition of sake. This is the first time at either competition that a sparkling sake has received the world's highest honor, making Shichiken the first brewery to open that door.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the local farmers who made this honor possible, and to everyone who has supported Shichiken over the years. Everyone at Shichiken takes great pride in this award, and we will continue to devote ourselves to brewing sake that is cherished by all.
　　

For details of the 10th Kura Master President's Award announcement, please visit the official website.
Kura Master Sake Competition 2026 (Japanese)