The “Oriental Sake Awards (OSA),” a sake competition themed around “chosen by Asia,” will be held in Hong Kong in August. This will be its fifth edition. Industry stakeholders and previous award winners recently gathered in Tokyo for a lecture and tasting event.
OSA is organized by the Federation of Japanese Sake Industry of Hong Kong, chaired by Micky Chan. It is the largest sake competition in Asia outside Japan. Last year, 531 entries were submitted. The top prize, “Sake of the Year,” was awarded to “Atago no Matsu Senretsu Karakuchi,” a honjozo sake from Niizawa Sake Brewery in Miyagi Prefecture.
A defining feature is that as many as 39 experts from 10 Asian countries and regions participate in judging. Entry classifications are also distinctive. In addition to production-method categories such as ginjo sake, junmai sake, honjozo sake, and sparkling sake, entries are further divided by flavor profiles such as “Rich & Umami” and “Light & Clean,” for a total of 11 categories.
At the lecture, sake journalist Haruo Matsuzaki, Representative Director of SAKE Marketing House and co-chair of the judging panel, spoke. “Sake exports to Hong Kong are well established, with approximately 1,000 brands from 400 to 500 breweries. OSA has an important role to play. It provides an opportunity for judges from countries across Asia to learn about sake flavors and spread them in their own markets,” he said.
Entries for OSA are being accepted through June 5. Judging will take place in Hong Kong from August 18 to 20; winners will be announced on September 9, with a live broadcast on social media and YouTube; and an awards ceremony is scheduled for October 29 in Macau.
Alongside the judging, a paid event bringing together more than 1,500 kinds of sake will be held at the local venue. Last year, 1,200 people attended over two days and enjoyed renowned sakes.
