SAKE HUNDRED's 'SHINSEI' Wins Platinum Award for Second Consecutive Year at French Sake Competition 'Kura Master 2026'
SAKE HUNDRED's sparkling sake 'SHINSEI' won the Platinum Award for the second consecutive year at the French sake competition 'Kura Master 2026', with four other brands also receiving Gold Awards. This marks the sixth consecutive year of awards for the SAKE HUNDRED brand.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 11, 2026 at 23:10
- 🔍 Collected: May 11, 2026 at 14:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 11, 2026 at 23:23 (8h 51m after Collected)
SAKE HUNDRED (operated by Clear Inc., Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Ryushi Ikoma), a Japanese sake brand, announced that its sparkling sake 'SHINSEI' received the Platinum Award at the French sake competition 'Kura Master 2026', the results of which were announced on May 11, 2026. Additionally, 'BYAKKO BESPOKE', 'NIKOU', 'SHIRIN', and 'RAIHI' received Gold Awards. 'SHINSEI' has now won the Platinum Award for two consecutive years, and the SAKE HUNDRED brand as a whole has received awards for six consecutive years.
'SHINSEI' Wins Platinum Award at 'Kura Master 2026'
SAKE HUNDRED, a Japanese sake brand with the purpose of 'filling hearts and enriching lives' for people worldwide, received the Platinum Award for its sparkling sake 'SHINSEI' at 'Kura Master 2026', while 'BYAKKO BESPOKE', 'NIKOU', 'SHIRIN', and 'RAIHI' received Gold Awards.
'SHINSEI' has also sponsored 'JAPANESE NIGHT in Cannes', an international cultural exchange event at the Cannes International Film Festival, for three consecutive years since 2024, playing a part in promoting the appeal of Japanese culture in France.
Sparkling sake 'SHINSEI' which won the Platinum Award. Flagship 'BYAKKO BESPOKE' which won the Gold Award.
Flagship series 'NIKOU' which won the Gold Award. 'SHIRIN' which won the Gold Award. Vintage sake 'RAIHI' which won the Gold Award.
Commemorating its 10th anniversary, 'Kura Master 2026' established the highest number of entry categories ever.
'Kura Master 2026' is a sake competition held in France for French people, which has been running since 2017. The judging took place on April 27, 2026 (Monday) at 'Pavillon Ledoyen' in Paris, and the award-winning sakes were announced on May 11, 2026 (Monday). Marking its 10th anniversary in 2026, this year's competition was the largest ever, with the highest number of entry categories established, attracting a total of 1,252 entries.
The judges for the 2026 competition included top sommeliers from five-star hotels, representatives from Michelin-starred restaurants, hotel and culinary school professionals, and wine journalists, all local professionals.
The 2026 sake categories were judged across nine divisions: 'Junmai Sake (51-65%)', 'Junmai Sake (66-100%)', 'Junmai Daiginjo Sake (1-35%)', 'Junmai Daiginjo Sake (36-50%)', 'Daiginjo Sake', 'Sake Sparkling', 'Classic Kimoto', 'Koshu (Aged Sake)', and 'Jukusei Sake (Matured Sake)'. 'SHINSEI', which won the Platinum Award for SAKE HUNDRED, was in the Sake Sparkling category. 'BYAKKO BESPOKE' and 'SHIRIN', which won Gold Awards, were in the Junmai Daiginjo Sake (1-35%)* category. 'NIKOU' was in the Junmai Sake (51-65%) category, and 'RAIHI' was in the Aged Sake category.
*1-35% and 51-65% refer to the rice polishing ratio.
Click here for the 'Kura Master 2026' judging results:
https://kuramaster.com/ja/concours/comite-2026/laureats/
The flavors of 'SHINSEI', 'BYAKKO BESPOKE', 'NIKOU', 'SHIRIN', and 'RAIHI' that won awards at 'Kura Master 2026'
SHINSEI — A unique sparkling sake that harmonizes with food.
Rich flavor beyond transparency. Quiet and beautiful bubbles. A long, elegant finish. 'SHINSEI' combines sophistication and complexity, revealing its true value when paired with food. This unique sparkling sake that harmonizes with food brings a special time to those who drink it.
Product Name: 深星 | SHINSEI
Manufacturer: Yamanashi Meijo (Yamanashi)
Volume: 720ml
Price: 35,200 yen (tax included, shipping extra)
Product Page: https://jp.sake100.com/products/shinsei
BYAKKO BESPOKE — Another BYAKKO, finally reached.
This is SAKE HUNDRED's flagship, achieving overwhelming transparency and exquisite flavor by carefully polishing rice for over 200 hours to a rice polishing ratio of 18%. Using 'Yamada Nishiki', often called the 'king of sake rice', as the raw material, it pursues a balance of sweetness, umami, and acidity. This bottle enhances its potential as a sake to be enjoyed with meals.
Product Name: 百光 別誂 | BYAKKO BESPOKE
Manufacturer: Tatenokawa Shuzo (Yamagata)
Volume: 720ml
Price: ¥27,500 (tax included, shipping extra)
Product Page: https://jp.sake100.com/products/byakko-bespok
'SHINSEI' Wins Platinum Award at 'Kura Master 2026'
SAKE HUNDRED, a Japanese sake brand with the purpose of 'filling hearts and enriching lives' for people worldwide, received the Platinum Award for its sparkling sake 'SHINSEI' at 'Kura Master 2026', while 'BYAKKO BESPOKE', 'NIKOU', 'SHIRIN', and 'RAIHI' received Gold Awards.
'SHINSEI' has also sponsored 'JAPANESE NIGHT in Cannes', an international cultural exchange event at the Cannes International Film Festival, for three consecutive years since 2024, playing a part in promoting the appeal of Japanese culture in France.
Sparkling sake 'SHINSEI' which won the Platinum Award. Flagship 'BYAKKO BESPOKE' which won the Gold Award.
Flagship series 'NIKOU' which won the Gold Award. 'SHIRIN' which won the Gold Award. Vintage sake 'RAIHI' which won the Gold Award.
Commemorating its 10th anniversary, 'Kura Master 2026' established the highest number of entry categories ever.
'Kura Master 2026' is a sake competition held in France for French people, which has been running since 2017. The judging took place on April 27, 2026 (Monday) at 'Pavillon Ledoyen' in Paris, and the award-winning sakes were announced on May 11, 2026 (Monday). Marking its 10th anniversary in 2026, this year's competition was the largest ever, with the highest number of entry categories established, attracting a total of 1,252 entries.
The judges for the 2026 competition included top sommeliers from five-star hotels, representatives from Michelin-starred restaurants, hotel and culinary school professionals, and wine journalists, all local professionals.
The 2026 sake categories were judged across nine divisions: 'Junmai Sake (51-65%)', 'Junmai Sake (66-100%)', 'Junmai Daiginjo Sake (1-35%)', 'Junmai Daiginjo Sake (36-50%)', 'Daiginjo Sake', 'Sake Sparkling', 'Classic Kimoto', 'Koshu (Aged Sake)', and 'Jukusei Sake (Matured Sake)'. 'SHINSEI', which won the Platinum Award for SAKE HUNDRED, was in the Sake Sparkling category. 'BYAKKO BESPOKE' and 'SHIRIN', which won Gold Awards, were in the Junmai Daiginjo Sake (1-35%)* category. 'NIKOU' was in the Junmai Sake (51-65%) category, and 'RAIHI' was in the Aged Sake category.
*1-35% and 51-65% refer to the rice polishing ratio.
Click here for the 'Kura Master 2026' judging results:
https://kuramaster.com/ja/concours/comite-2026/laureats/
The flavors of 'SHINSEI', 'BYAKKO BESPOKE', 'NIKOU', 'SHIRIN', and 'RAIHI' that won awards at 'Kura Master 2026'
SHINSEI — A unique sparkling sake that harmonizes with food.
Rich flavor beyond transparency. Quiet and beautiful bubbles. A long, elegant finish. 'SHINSEI' combines sophistication and complexity, revealing its true value when paired with food. This unique sparkling sake that harmonizes with food brings a special time to those who drink it.
Product Name: 深星 | SHINSEI
Manufacturer: Yamanashi Meijo (Yamanashi)
Volume: 720ml
Price: 35,200 yen (tax included, shipping extra)
Product Page: https://jp.sake100.com/products/shinsei
BYAKKO BESPOKE — Another BYAKKO, finally reached.
This is SAKE HUNDRED's flagship, achieving overwhelming transparency and exquisite flavor by carefully polishing rice for over 200 hours to a rice polishing ratio of 18%. Using 'Yamada Nishiki', often called the 'king of sake rice', as the raw material, it pursues a balance of sweetness, umami, and acidity. This bottle enhances its potential as a sake to be enjoyed with meals.
Product Name: 百光 別誂 | BYAKKO BESPOKE
Manufacturer: Tatenokawa Shuzo (Yamagata)
Volume: 720ml
Price: ¥27,500 (tax included, shipping extra)
Product Page: https://jp.sake100.com/products/byakko-bespok