Established 160 Years Ago, First International Award. Miyazaki Sake Brewery's Junmai Daiginjo 'Salmon Musubi' and 'Maguro Musubi' Win Double Gold and Special Award at 'Bangkok Sake Challenge 2026'!
Miyazaki Sake Brewery, a long-established brewery in Chiba, won two Gold medals at the 'Bangkok Sake Challenge 2026' for its seafood-pairing specialized sakes. This marks their first international achievement in their 160-year history.
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- 📰 Published: April 23, 2026 at 20:00
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Miyazaki Sake Brewery (located in Kimitsu City, Chiba Prefecture), operated by Anoh Holdings Co., Ltd. (HQ: Kisarazu City, Chiba Prefecture; CEO: Ryo Tonami), achieved a major milestone at the international sake competition 'Bangkok Sake Challenge 2026' held in Bangkok on March 21, 2026. The brewery won Gold medals for its two brands, 'Junmai Daiginjo Salmon Musubi' and 'Junmai Daiginjo Maguro Musubi.' Furthermore, 'Maguro Musubi' was selected for the 'Best Chef & Food Pairing Award (Green Curry with Tiger Prawns category),' an award chosen by top chefs in Bangkok, achieving a triple crown.
### About Sake Challenge
'Sake Challenge' is an international sake competition series aimed at promoting sake globally. Certified sake sommeliers active in the region serve as judges. To date, it has been held in seven countries: London, Milan, Bordeaux, Luxembourg, Singapore, Tokyo, and Toronto. The evaluation criteria include not only the aroma and taste of the sake itself but also its compatibility with local cuisine and the preferences of local people.
### About Bangkok Sake Challenge 2026
This event is part of the 'Sake Challenge' series, serving as a prestigious platform for international evaluation through blind tastings by local certified sake sommeliers. The contest was held on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at 'Soul Songwat,' a creative hub in Bangkok, Thailand. Awards including Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze were presented to high-quality sakes selected through tasting, design, and food pairing reviews. Special awards like the 'Best Chef & Food Pairing Award' and 'Best Design Award' were also given.
### First International Milestone for a 160-Year-Old Brewery
Founded in 1866 (the first year of the Keio era), this award is the first international achievement in the 160-year history of Miyazaki Sake Brewery.
#### Junmai Daiginjo Salmon Musubi (Gold Medal Winner)
Designed specifically for seafood lovers, this sake focuses on acidity and umami. It is a dedicated sake that complements the sweetness of fatty salmon. The brewery pursued a balance between rich umami and refreshing acidity that enhances seafood dishes. It harmonizes perfectly with seafood prepared with Western elements, such as salmon marinated or as carpaccio. With a strong focus on 'sake for meals,' they use table rice instead of specialized sake rice, grown and polished on their own farmland.
#### Junmai Daiginjo Maguro Musubi (Gold Medal & Best Chef & Food Pairing Award Winner)
A special bottle designed to 'tie' (musubu) you with tuna. This 'tuna-specific sake' was born to enhance the flavor of lean tuna and fatty toro. It achieves a balance between wine-like sweetness and firm acidity that tightens the palate. Despite being designed for marriage with the richコク (koku) of tuna, it also uses table rice, leaving a faint umami of rice in the aftertaste.
#### Why 'Green Curry with Tiger Prawns'?
This classic Thai dish features green curry with black tiger prawns. The design of 'Maguro Musubi' to enhance seafood umami matched perfectly with the spices of the green curry and the richness of the prawns, which was highly praised by the judges.
### Comment from CEO Sho Tonami
'This award is not a result of chance. Since last year, I have personally visited Thailand, experiencing the local food culture and building relationships and trust through shared meals. These two brands were born from inspirations gained through encounters and experiences in Thailand. I am convinced that Japan and Thailand, sharing a common culture of rice and fermentation, have deep potential for connection through sake. With this award as a foothold, we will further accelerate our expansion into Asian markets, starting with Thailand.'
### Brewery Introduction
Miyazaki Sake Brewery, which celebrates its 160th anniversary in Chiba, joined the Anoh Holdings group in the fall of 2023. With a generational transition, it has started its 'Second Founding.' Currently, it focuses on soil-to-bottle production, including cultivating its own rice and using diverse varieties for brewing.
### About Sake Challenge
'Sake Challenge' is an international sake competition series aimed at promoting sake globally. Certified sake sommeliers active in the region serve as judges. To date, it has been held in seven countries: London, Milan, Bordeaux, Luxembourg, Singapore, Tokyo, and Toronto. The evaluation criteria include not only the aroma and taste of the sake itself but also its compatibility with local cuisine and the preferences of local people.
### About Bangkok Sake Challenge 2026
This event is part of the 'Sake Challenge' series, serving as a prestigious platform for international evaluation through blind tastings by local certified sake sommeliers. The contest was held on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at 'Soul Songwat,' a creative hub in Bangkok, Thailand. Awards including Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze were presented to high-quality sakes selected through tasting, design, and food pairing reviews. Special awards like the 'Best Chef & Food Pairing Award' and 'Best Design Award' were also given.
### First International Milestone for a 160-Year-Old Brewery
Founded in 1866 (the first year of the Keio era), this award is the first international achievement in the 160-year history of Miyazaki Sake Brewery.
#### Junmai Daiginjo Salmon Musubi (Gold Medal Winner)
Designed specifically for seafood lovers, this sake focuses on acidity and umami. It is a dedicated sake that complements the sweetness of fatty salmon. The brewery pursued a balance between rich umami and refreshing acidity that enhances seafood dishes. It harmonizes perfectly with seafood prepared with Western elements, such as salmon marinated or as carpaccio. With a strong focus on 'sake for meals,' they use table rice instead of specialized sake rice, grown and polished on their own farmland.
#### Junmai Daiginjo Maguro Musubi (Gold Medal & Best Chef & Food Pairing Award Winner)
A special bottle designed to 'tie' (musubu) you with tuna. This 'tuna-specific sake' was born to enhance the flavor of lean tuna and fatty toro. It achieves a balance between wine-like sweetness and firm acidity that tightens the palate. Despite being designed for marriage with the richコク (koku) of tuna, it also uses table rice, leaving a faint umami of rice in the aftertaste.
#### Why 'Green Curry with Tiger Prawns'?
This classic Thai dish features green curry with black tiger prawns. The design of 'Maguro Musubi' to enhance seafood umami matched perfectly with the spices of the green curry and the richness of the prawns, which was highly praised by the judges.
### Comment from CEO Sho Tonami
'This award is not a result of chance. Since last year, I have personally visited Thailand, experiencing the local food culture and building relationships and trust through shared meals. These two brands were born from inspirations gained through encounters and experiences in Thailand. I am convinced that Japan and Thailand, sharing a common culture of rice and fermentation, have deep potential for connection through sake. With this award as a foothold, we will further accelerate our expansion into Asian markets, starting with Thailand.'
### Brewery Introduction
Miyazaki Sake Brewery, which celebrates its 160th anniversary in Chiba, joined the Anoh Holdings group in the fall of 2023. With a generational transition, it has started its 'Second Founding.' Currently, it focuses on soil-to-bottle production, including cultivating its own rice and using diverse varieties for brewing.