The Sakura Awards – Asia's largest wine competition – has returned for its 11th year in Osaka and in Tokyo. The increasingly popular and influential competition sees thousands of entries from over 28 countries, blind-tasted and judged by an expert panel of Japanese women comprised of sommeliers, winemakers, beverage directors and journalists.
Established in 2014 by now-President Yumi Tanabe, the Sakura Awards represents an endeavour to focus on wine from the unique perspective of the Japanese woman. In Tanabe's own words, the aim of the competition is to "find wines that go well with Japanese home cooking and expand opportunities for women in the wine industry." The Awards reflect and support the significant domestic influence of Japanese women, who are beginning to shape the Japanese wine market through their own purchasing power.
Though traditionally known for saké, whisky and beer, Japan is quickly gaining international recognition for its wine. Though wine consumption in the country did not start until the 16th century with the arrival of Jesuit missionaries, the modern popularity of French and Italian cuisines has inspired domestic wine production across Japan, with Yamanashi, Nagano and Hokkaido emerging as major wine centres.
For more information about Japan's wine industry and the 2024 edition of The Sakura Awards go to http://www.sakuraaward.com/jp/index.html.