MINAKI's New Sake "Genkyo｜GENKYO" Wins Gold Medal at Kura Master 2026 in France
MINAKI's new product, "Genkyo｜GENKYO," a luxury sake brand, won a gold medal in the Junmai Daiginjo (1-35% polished rice) category at Kura Master 2026 held in Paris, France. This achievement, just two months after its launch, marks a significant international recognition and further evolution for the brand.
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- 📰 Published: May 12, 2026 at 19:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 12, 2026 at 10:31
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REBORN Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Kenji Minaki; hereinafter "REBORN") is pleased to announce that its luxury sake brand "MINAKI," operating under the concept of "circulating that moment," has won a gold medal in the Junmai Daiginjo (1-35% polished rice) category for its new product "Genkyo｜GENKYO" at "Kura Master 2026," held in Paris, France, in May 2026.
"Genkyo｜GENKYO" is MINAKI's latest creation, launched in March 2026. Within a short period of just two months since its release, it has received high praise from top sommeliers and food and beverage professionals in France, earning a gold medal at a world-renowned sake competition.
MINAKI's flagship product, "Gokugen｜GOKUGEN," has previously received multiple awards, including the Platinum Award, at Kura Master. With "Genkyo｜GENKYO" also gaining international recognition as a new challenge, the brand continues to evolve.
**About Kura Master**
Kura Master is a sake competition held in France since 2017, aimed at introducing the appeal of Japanese sake to the French people. The judges are mainly French professionals, including M.O.F (Meilleur Ouvrier de France – Best Craftsman of France) holders, top sommeliers from leading French hotels, bartenders, cavists, and professionals from restaurants, hotels, and culinary schools.
Xavier Thuizat, Chairman of the Judging Committee, commented: "This milestone 10th-anniversary judging session introduced a more refined evaluation system, including category divisions by rice polishing ratio and a new aged sake category. This allowed for an even clearer assessment of sake's diversity and individuality than ever before."
■Kura Master 2026 Sake Competition Award-Winning Sake Announcement
https://kuramaster.com/ja/concours-ja/2026/concours-des-sakes-2026-laureats-ja/
**About the Award-Winning Brand**
**"Genkyo｜GENKYO"**
A product aged for seven months in French oak barrels. The subtle vanilla aroma brought by the French oak barrels, combined with a delicate woody nuance and a light taste with suppressed roastiness, unlocks new possibilities for Japanese sake. It is attracting attention from restaurants, hotels, and gourmets both domestically and internationally as a new expression of luxury sake that transcends existing sake frameworks.
Volume: 720ml
Rice Polishing Ratio: 17%
Production Location: Yamagata Prefecture
Rice Variety: 100% Yamada Nishiki from Hyogo Prefecture
Alcohol Content: 15 degrees
Pasteurization: Once
Price: 44,800 JPY (excluding tax)
**"Circulating that moment" MINAKI**
MINAKI is a sake brand that aims to expand the possibilities of Japanese sake and deliver the world of luxury sake in various forms. Immediately after its launch in 2022, it received high international acclaim, winning awards at six world competitions, including the IWC, and is offered at top restaurants and hotels. Collaborating with master brewers who possess reliable skills and strong passion, MINAKI pursues the "ideal taste and style" suitable for luxury settings. The brand continues to challenge new frontiers in the world of sake, believing in a future where sake enriches people's special emotions, time, and places.
**Membership Information**
MINAKI offers events and limited sales exclusively for members.
Membership registration is free, so please register.
https://minaki-sake.com/account/register
**Company Overview**
Company Name: REBORN Co., Ltd.
Representative Director: Kenji Minaki
Location: 5F Nishi Azabu 3243 Bldg., 3-2-43 Nishi Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0031
Business Activities: Operation of the sake brand "MINAKI"
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/minaki_sake
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/minaki.sake/about
X: https://x.com/minaki_sake
Web: https://minaki-sake.com/
"Genkyo｜GENKYO" is MINAKI's latest creation, launched in March 2026. Within a short period of just two months since its release, it has received high praise from top sommeliers and food and beverage professionals in France, earning a gold medal at a world-renowned sake competition.
MINAKI's flagship product, "Gokugen｜GOKUGEN," has previously received multiple awards, including the Platinum Award, at Kura Master. With "Genkyo｜GENKYO" also gaining international recognition as a new challenge, the brand continues to evolve.
**About Kura Master**
Kura Master is a sake competition held in France since 2017, aimed at introducing the appeal of Japanese sake to the French people. The judges are mainly French professionals, including M.O.F (Meilleur Ouvrier de France – Best Craftsman of France) holders, top sommeliers from leading French hotels, bartenders, cavists, and professionals from restaurants, hotels, and culinary schools.
Xavier Thuizat, Chairman of the Judging Committee, commented: "This milestone 10th-anniversary judging session introduced a more refined evaluation system, including category divisions by rice polishing ratio and a new aged sake category. This allowed for an even clearer assessment of sake's diversity and individuality than ever before."
■Kura Master 2026 Sake Competition Award-Winning Sake Announcement
https://kuramaster.com/ja/concours-ja/2026/concours-des-sakes-2026-laureats-ja/
**About the Award-Winning Brand**
**"Genkyo｜GENKYO"**
A product aged for seven months in French oak barrels. The subtle vanilla aroma brought by the French oak barrels, combined with a delicate woody nuance and a light taste with suppressed roastiness, unlocks new possibilities for Japanese sake. It is attracting attention from restaurants, hotels, and gourmets both domestically and internationally as a new expression of luxury sake that transcends existing sake frameworks.
Volume: 720ml
Rice Polishing Ratio: 17%
Production Location: Yamagata Prefecture
Rice Variety: 100% Yamada Nishiki from Hyogo Prefecture
Alcohol Content: 15 degrees
Pasteurization: Once
Price: 44,800 JPY (excluding tax)
**"Circulating that moment" MINAKI**
MINAKI is a sake brand that aims to expand the possibilities of Japanese sake and deliver the world of luxury sake in various forms. Immediately after its launch in 2022, it received high international acclaim, winning awards at six world competitions, including the IWC, and is offered at top restaurants and hotels. Collaborating with master brewers who possess reliable skills and strong passion, MINAKI pursues the "ideal taste and style" suitable for luxury settings. The brand continues to challenge new frontiers in the world of sake, believing in a future where sake enriches people's special emotions, time, and places.
**Membership Information**
MINAKI offers events and limited sales exclusively for members.
Membership registration is free, so please register.
https://minaki-sake.com/account/register
**Company Overview**
Company Name: REBORN Co., Ltd.
Representative Director: Kenji Minaki
Location: 5F Nishi Azabu 3243 Bldg., 3-2-43 Nishi Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0031
Business Activities: Operation of the sake brand "MINAKI"
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/minaki_sake
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/minaki.sake/about
X: https://x.com/minaki_sake
Web: https://minaki-sake.com/