Authentic Rice Shochu “Kurayoshi” Wins World’s Highest Award “World’s Best” at WSA2025

Matsui Shuzo Gomei Gaisha (Kurayoshi Distillery, located in Kurayoshi City, Tottori Prefecture)’s authentic rice shochu “Kurayoshi” has won the “World’s Best,” the highest award in the shochu category, at the global spirits competition “World Shochu Awards 2025 (WSA2025).”
WSA is an international competition where excellent shochu from around the world are entered and judged in multiple categories according to differences in ingredients and production methods.
Under rigorous evaluation by experts, the authentic rice shochu “Kurayoshi” was highly praised for its balance of fruity aroma, gentle sweetness derived from rice, and clear aftertaste, receiving the honor of the highest award “World’s Best” from international judges.
This award demonstrates that the delicate and profound flavors of “rice shochu,” a distilled spirit unique to Japan, have been highly acclaimed worldwide.
We are extremely pleased that Japan’s unique sake culture, including techniques for bringing out the natural umami of rice and high compatibility with cuisine, has been recognized across borders.
The authentic rice shochu “Kurayoshi” is an authentic rice shochu carefully crafted with specially selected ingredients and special distillation methods.
It features a fruity aroma reminiscent of pineapple and the umami of rice, with an appealing clean drinking experience.
We have created a bottle that can also be enjoyed in refreshing styles such as mixed with carbonated water.
Winning “World’s Best” in less than two years from its release is a great encouragement for us and provides strong support for our future challenges.
Matsui Shuzo will continue to deliver products that satisfy customers both domestically and internationally through sake brewing that focuses on quality.
 
■ Product Information
Authentic Rice Shochu “Kurayoshi”

Volume/720ml
Alcohol content/25%
Ingredients/Rice (domestic), rice koji (domestic rice)
Using 50% polished Yamada Nishiki rice, yellow koji, and carefully selected yeast as ingredients, we employed junmai daiginjo brewing methods and low-temperature fermentation for 30 days to create fruity aroma and flavorful moromi, which was then distilled using Matsui Shuzo’s unique vacuum distillation equipment.
By distilling slowly at low temperatures over time, we were able to express the original taste and aroma of rice down to the finest details.
 
■ About WSA (World Shochu Awards)
World Shochu Awards is a global spirits competition specializing in shochu.
Various types of shochu from Japan, Asia, Europe, America, and other countries are entered, with judging conducted in categories divided by ingredients and production methods.
Judging is conducted by spirits experts, bartenders, industry professionals, and others, with evaluation from multiple perspectives including aroma, taste, balance, and uniqueness.
It attracts attention from distilled spirits fans and industry professionals worldwide, including Japan, the home of shochu, and “winning at WSA” is highly regarded as proof of international quality evaluation.