Koshinotaka (越の鷹), the flagship sake brand of Ito Shuzo, a subsidiary brewery representing the Fukui region of Japan, won the grand prize at the 2026 Korea Alcoholic Beverage Awards, it said on the 23rd.
Among the sakes under the Koshinotaka brand, the representative work is Junmai Ginjo. Ito Shuzo's Junmai Ginjo is carefully brewed using Gohyakumangoku (五百万石), a sake rice representing Fukui, and yeast developed in Fukui.
When chilled, it offers a refreshing flavor reminiscent of white wine, and when gently warmed, the rice's inherent soft sweetness and deep umami stand out even more.
The name Koshinotaka originates from the "hawk (鷹)," which has long been regarded as a sacred bird. For many years, hawks have been an object of admiration for humans and have formed a deep relationship with people through falconry.
The company said it named the sake "Koshinotaka" to embody the wish to become a strong presence like a hawk soaring powerfully over the land of "Koshi (越)."
The brewery is located near Daianzenji (大安禅寺), which served as the barley temple of the Fukui domain, close to the Kuzuryu River. Ito sake brewing is characterized by the brewery head personally running operations, and the head's passion and philosophy are fully reflected in every sake.