Yuasa Soy Sauce's 'Nama Ippon Kuro Mame Shoyu' Wins Grand Gold at Monde Selection 2026 for 21st Consecutive Year

Yuasa Soy Sauce Co., Ltd., the soy sauce division of Marushin Honke—a traditional brewing company founded in 1881 (Meiji 14) in Yuasa Town, Wakayama Prefecture, known as the birthplace of Japanese soy sauce brewing—announces that its foundational product, 'Nama Ippon Kuro Mame Shoyu' (Raw Single-Press Black Soybean Soy Sauce), has received the Grand Gold Award in the food category at Monde Selection 2026. This achievement marks the 21st consecutive year of receiving the highest honor since its first award in 2006.

■ The Craftsmanship Behind the Acclaimed 'Nama Ippon Kuro Mame Shoyu'

'Nama Ippon Kuro Mame Shoyu' is crafted using 100% domestically grown Tamba black soybeans, combined only with Japanese wheat and salt, resulting in an exceptionally simple yet luxurious ingredient profile. The company adheres to traditional brewing methods, utilizing age-old wooden barrels and allowing skilled artisans to slowly ferment and mature the soy sauce over time.

The soy sauce undergoes a full two years of natural aging, developing a rich, deep umami flavor and a full-bodied, aromatic fragrance that unfolds beautifully on the palate.

▼ Recommended Uses for 'Nama Ippon Kuro Mame Shoyu'

Simply drizzle over chilled tofu (hiyayakko) to experience the sauce’s intense, pure flavor directly. Its robust taste also pairs exceptionally well with red-fleshed sashimi, standing up to its richness, and makes an excellent dipping sauce.

■ Award Ceremony of Monde Selection 2026 in Paris, France

The 2026 award ceremony was held on June 9 in Paris, France (local time), where company representative Toshiro Shinko attended in person.

▼ Comments from President Toshiro Shinko

"Attending the ceremony in person for the first time since the Bordeaux event in 2014, I once again felt the passionate energy on-site and reaffirmed our commitment to crafting the world’s finest soy sauce."

"'Nama Ippon Kuro Mame Shoyu,' the very first product we launched upon establishing Yuasa Soy Sauce Co., Ltd., represents our origin. At launch, our uncompromising dedication to premium ingredients reflected in the price, causing internal concerns about market acceptance. However, its quality has since gained global recognition, and it has become a beloved flagship product representing our company."

"In recent years, we have expanded beyond Japan, even undertaking soy sauce brewing in France. We hope that soy sauce as a seasoning can naturally integrate into French cuisine, giving rise to new culinary expressions."

"Moving forward, we will continue to honor tradition while boldly embracing new challenges, striving to share the culture of Japanese soy sauce with people around the world."

■ About Monde Selection

Monde Selection is an international, independent quality evaluation organization headquartered in Brussels, Belgium. It aims to discover and recognize outstanding products from around the world by assessing the quality of a wide range of items—including food, beverages, alcoholic drinks, confectionery, cosmetics, health supplements, and drinking water—and awarding medals (Grand Gold, Gold, Silver, Bronze) based on scoring.

■ Product Overview

・Product Name: Yuasa Soy Sauce – Nama Ippon Kuro Mame
・Ingredients: Black soybeans (domestically sourced), wheat (domestically sourced), salt
・Price: ¥1,296 (tax included) / 200ml
・Sales Locations: Yuasa Soy Sauce Shokan, Marushin Honke Main Store, Marushin Honke Co., Ltd. (Tanabe Store, Nanki Shirahama Toretore Market Store)
・Official EC Site: https://www.marushinhonke.com/c/3555/28820

■ About Yuasa Soy Sauce Co., Ltd.

Established as the soy sauce division of Marushin Honke, a traditional brewing company founded in 1881 (Meiji 14), Yuasa Soy Sauce Co., Ltd. is dedicated to crafting the world’s finest soy sauce using traditional wooden barrel fermentation methods.

Website: https://www.yuasasyouyu.co.jp/