On Thursday 8 September, the Japan Sake Brewers Association Junior Council and the Embassy of Japan co-hosted the International Wine Challenge (IWC) Award-Winning Sake Tasting.

The IWC, most prestigious wine competition in the world, announced champion sake of 2011 just two days before the event. In the event, a variety of the finest sake from Japan, including the champion and other award-winners, were provided.

The devastating earthquake and tsunami on 11 March damaged many sake breweries in the affected area. To support them and contribute to the reconstruction of that area, the Embassy of Japan also provided several brands of sake brewed in the Tohoku region.

Among the Kuramotos at the event representing the affected region was the Urakasumi brewery in Miyagi, which suffered significant damage. The walls of its storehouses collapsed as a result of the earthquake and machinery broke down because of the tsunami. More than 10,000 bottles that were stored or awaiting shipment were smashed.

Since then, amid numerous aftershocks, the brewery¡Çs president, Koichi Saura, and his staff have overcome adversity and have continued to rebuild their business. One of their sake, ¡ÈKuranohana Junmai Daiginjo Urakasumi,¡É won the IWC 2011 Gold medal in its category and will be available for tasting on the 8th.

Thanks to the increasing popularity of sake, this year¡Çs event was fully booked and more than 250 sake lovers enjoyed the Japanese tradition.