[Takara Shuzo] "Hō CRAFT" <Yoichi Niagara> Wins Gold Award at Hokkaido Souvenir Grand Prix

Takara Shuzo Co., Ltd.'s "Hō CRAFT" <Yoichi Niagara> has won the Gold Award at the 5th "Hokkaido Souvenir Grand Prix," hosted by FM NORTH WAVE.

"Hō CRAFT" <Yoichi Niagara> is a product characterized by its gorgeous and rich aroma, made with straight juice from "Niagara," a variety of grape cultivated in Yoichi Town, Hokkaido, and a unique grape spirit. Furthermore, the richness of barrel-aged shochu is added, creating a crisp, dry, yet deep flavor.

It pairs well with Hokkaido's soul foods such as robatayaki and jingisukan, enhancing their richness and umami while leaving a light aftertaste, making it enjoyable with meals.

By limiting sales to Hokkaido, it caters to the unique food culture and preferences of the region, supporting local consumption. As a Hokkaido-limited product with a craft-like bottle design, it is also suitable for souvenir demand and has been a long-loved item since its release in 2019.

The judging comments included: "The design is highly praised for its clear label and intuitive product information. The gorgeous aroma unique to the Niagara grape and the crisp, less sweet taste are well-received, and its compatibility with food is also a charm. It is considered to be accepted by a wide range of people due to its drinkability, making its popularity understandable. The balance with the price is also good, and it can be said to be a suitable product as a souvenir, a craft highball that allows you to feel the essence of Hokkaido."

We will continue to create new deliciousness and value in "washu" (Japanese sake/spirits) with our proven technology, contributing to the rich and smiling lives of our customers.

["Hō CRAFT" <Yoichi Niagara> Product Overview] Category: Liqueur (Carbonated) Alcohol Content: 8% Fruit Juice Content: 3% Volume/Container: 330ml/Bottle Packaging: 12 bottles in a cardboard box Suggested Retail Price (excluding tax): 338 yen Sales Region: Hokkaido Limited

◆ About the initiative for the region-limited craft highball "Hō CRAFT"

1. Leading up to the birth of "Hō CRAFT" Even before "Hō CRAFT" was created, we developed "limited-time, nationwide sales" highballs using domestic fruits. While this contributed to increased recognition and branding by highlighting the production areas and fruit names nationwide, challenges became apparent, such as "limited-edition freshness fading after 2-3 years, necessitating changes to new products" and "difficulty in handling as local souvenirs because they can be bought anywhere or only for a limited time."

2. The birth of "Hō CRAFT" As our employees visited production areas themselves, they observed many challenges faced by these regions, including "unsold produce having to be discarded," "serious issues of aging producers and a shortage of successors," and "inability to promote local fruits to tourists outside of their season." To solve these issues and aim for "the construction of a sustainable business model that leads to the continuous revitalization of the region," "Hō CRAFT" was born in 2017. It is a brand created with the desire to "increase recognition and value by having locals know about regional fruits through region-limited, year-round sales. We want to boost the entire production area by making it pair well with local gourmet food, encouraging local restaurants and retailers to carry it." Furthermore, since labor shortages during harvest season due to aging populations are a challenge in various regional production areas, we continue activities where our employees visit production areas to assist with harvesting.

◆ "Hō CRAFT" Brand Site https://www.takarashuzo.co.jp/products/soft_alcohol/takara_craft/ "Hō CRAFT" is a region-limited craft highball made with a "one-step process" that carefully crafts local ingredients to bring out their characteristics and individuality. As of July 2026, we offer 45 items in our lineup.