Sakagura Ohtemon's Authentic Imo Shochu 'Kajinami' Wins Superior Gold at TWSC 2026
Sakagura Ohtemon Co., Ltd. (Location: Nichinan City, Miyazaki) announced that its authentic imo (sweet potato) shochu 'Kajinami' has won the Superior Gold award in the shochu division at the Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition 2026 (TWSC 2026). This marks the third consecutive year Sakagura Ohtemon has received this top honor.
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- 📰 Published: May 15, 2026 at 21:12
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Sakagura Ohtemon Co., Ltd. (Location: 898-8 Otofukou, Kitago-cho, Nichinan City, Miyazaki Prefecture; President: Tomoo Kitatani) is pleased to announce that its authentic imo (sweet potato) shochu, 'Kajinami,' has been awarded the Superior Gold prize in the shochu category at the Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition 2026 (TWSC 2026).
This award marks the third consecutive year that Sakagura Ohtemon has received the Superior Gold prize, following 'Madako' the year before last and 'Kurauchi Gokuhi Ringisho' last year.
What is TWSC?
It is Asia's largest whisky and spirits competition held exclusively in Japan. First held in 2019, it has gained attention as a platform for Japanese experts to evaluate whiskies and spirits from around the world, with judging conducted based on the unique and delicate palate of Japan.
TWSC 2026 Award-Winning Product
'Kajinami' - Superior Gold
'Kajinami' is a limited-quantity imo shochu meticulously crafted from the highest quality Koganesengan sweet potatoes provided by the Kajinami Farm in Kobayashi City, Miyazaki, along with rice koji made from new-crop Koshihikari rice from Miyazaki Prefecture, and other fine natural ingredients. Liquor stores and restaurants in Kyushu also cooperate in the sweet potato harvesting process, making 'Kajinami' a product that embodies a solid connection between agriculture, commerce, and industry. The judges praised it, stating, 'The balance of toasted aroma and saltiness is exquisite, with a wonderful finish that leaves a long, deep aftertaste.'
Ingredients: Sweet potato (Koganesengan: domestic) / Rice koji (using domestic rice)
Volume: 720ml / 1,800ml
Alcohol content: 25%
'KAZA G-25' - Gold
Named 'KAZA,' which means 'aroma' in the Miyazaki dialect, this barley shochu uses whisky yeast to create a distinctive flavor profile with notes of 'apple, banana, and cereal.' It aims to provide a new option that can be enjoyed in various ways.
Ingredients: Barley (Haruka Nijo from Saga Prefecture) / White koji
Volume: 720ml
Alcohol content: 42%
Major Awards in Liquor Competitions
TWSC 2026: Kajinami - Superior Gold / KAZA G-25 - Gold
TWSC 2025: Kurauchi Gokuhi Ringisho - Superior Gold
TWSC 2024: Madako (Imo) - Superior Gold & Best of Category / Kirino Touyama - Gold & Best of Category / Ryu, beyond - Gold
IWSC 2025: Kurauchi Gokuhi Ringisho - Superior Gold
IWSC 2024: Madako (Imo) - Superior Gold / Rou - Gold / Sakagura Ohtemon - Shochu Producer Trophy
IWSC 2023: Aku no Kurobuka - Superior Gold Trophy
Kura Master 2025: Torafugu Chindara (Barrel-aged) - Platinum / 2025 Authentic Shochu & Awamori Competition - Excellence Award / 2025 Authentic Shochu & Awamori Competition - Judge's Award
Kura Master 2024: Chou Furaou Genshu TF-55 - Gold (Imo category)
Kura Master 2023: Zeni ni Arazu - Gold (Imo category)
*TWSC: Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition. An annual competition since 1999, boasting one of Asia's largest number of entries, which judges whiskies and spirits from around the world with the delicate palate cultivated by Japanese culture.
*IWSC: International Wine and Spirit Competition. A competition that evaluates alcoholic beverages such as wine, spirits, and liqueurs from around the world. Established in London, UK in 1969, it is known as one of the world's three major liquor competitions.
*Kura Master: A competition for traditional Japanese alcoholic beverages held in France for the French people since 2017. An authentic shochu and awamori category was newly established in 2021.
About Sakagura Ohtemon
Founded in 1895 in Kitago-cho, Nichinan City, Miyazaki Prefecture, Sakagura Ohtemon is a shochu distillery. Its representative brand is 'Ginteki.' The name 'Ginteki' (Silver Drop) was given by the founder, who was moved by the sight of the first drops of distillation, known as 'hanatare,' shining and dripping like jewels (silver). 'Ginteki' is also a famed sake that was once chosen as a presentation sake when Emperor Showa visited the prefecture.
HP: https://ohtemon1895.jp/
Contact for product inquiries:
Sakagura Ohtemon Co., Ltd.
Email: info@ohtemon1895.jp
Phone: 0987-21-7717
FAX: 0987-21-7727
This award marks the third consecutive year that Sakagura Ohtemon has received the Superior Gold prize, following 'Madako' the year before last and 'Kurauchi Gokuhi Ringisho' last year.
What is TWSC?
It is Asia's largest whisky and spirits competition held exclusively in Japan. First held in 2019, it has gained attention as a platform for Japanese experts to evaluate whiskies and spirits from around the world, with judging conducted based on the unique and delicate palate of Japan.
TWSC 2026 Award-Winning Product
'Kajinami' - Superior Gold
'Kajinami' is a limited-quantity imo shochu meticulously crafted from the highest quality Koganesengan sweet potatoes provided by the Kajinami Farm in Kobayashi City, Miyazaki, along with rice koji made from new-crop Koshihikari rice from Miyazaki Prefecture, and other fine natural ingredients. Liquor stores and restaurants in Kyushu also cooperate in the sweet potato harvesting process, making 'Kajinami' a product that embodies a solid connection between agriculture, commerce, and industry. The judges praised it, stating, 'The balance of toasted aroma and saltiness is exquisite, with a wonderful finish that leaves a long, deep aftertaste.'
Ingredients: Sweet potato (Koganesengan: domestic) / Rice koji (using domestic rice)
Volume: 720ml / 1,800ml
Alcohol content: 25%
'KAZA G-25' - Gold
Named 'KAZA,' which means 'aroma' in the Miyazaki dialect, this barley shochu uses whisky yeast to create a distinctive flavor profile with notes of 'apple, banana, and cereal.' It aims to provide a new option that can be enjoyed in various ways.
Ingredients: Barley (Haruka Nijo from Saga Prefecture) / White koji
Volume: 720ml
Alcohol content: 42%
Major Awards in Liquor Competitions
TWSC 2026: Kajinami - Superior Gold / KAZA G-25 - Gold
TWSC 2025: Kurauchi Gokuhi Ringisho - Superior Gold
TWSC 2024: Madako (Imo) - Superior Gold & Best of Category / Kirino Touyama - Gold & Best of Category / Ryu, beyond - Gold
IWSC 2025: Kurauchi Gokuhi Ringisho - Superior Gold
IWSC 2024: Madako (Imo) - Superior Gold / Rou - Gold / Sakagura Ohtemon - Shochu Producer Trophy
IWSC 2023: Aku no Kurobuka - Superior Gold Trophy
Kura Master 2025: Torafugu Chindara (Barrel-aged) - Platinum / 2025 Authentic Shochu & Awamori Competition - Excellence Award / 2025 Authentic Shochu & Awamori Competition - Judge's Award
Kura Master 2024: Chou Furaou Genshu TF-55 - Gold (Imo category)
Kura Master 2023: Zeni ni Arazu - Gold (Imo category)
*TWSC: Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition. An annual competition since 1999, boasting one of Asia's largest number of entries, which judges whiskies and spirits from around the world with the delicate palate cultivated by Japanese culture.
*IWSC: International Wine and Spirit Competition. A competition that evaluates alcoholic beverages such as wine, spirits, and liqueurs from around the world. Established in London, UK in 1969, it is known as one of the world's three major liquor competitions.
*Kura Master: A competition for traditional Japanese alcoholic beverages held in France for the French people since 2017. An authentic shochu and awamori category was newly established in 2021.
About Sakagura Ohtemon
Founded in 1895 in Kitago-cho, Nichinan City, Miyazaki Prefecture, Sakagura Ohtemon is a shochu distillery. Its representative brand is 'Ginteki.' The name 'Ginteki' (Silver Drop) was given by the founder, who was moved by the sight of the first drops of distillation, known as 'hanatare,' shining and dripping like jewels (silver). 'Ginteki' is also a famed sake that was once chosen as a presentation sake when Emperor Showa visited the prefecture.
HP: https://ohtemon1895.jp/
Contact for product inquiries:
Sakagura Ohtemon Co., Ltd.
Email: info@ohtemon1895.jp
Phone: 0987-21-7717
FAX: 0987-21-7727