Photo= President Sato holding "Taiko" which was awarded the gold prize at the London Sake Challenge, along with the award certificate (Sato Syuzo. Co., Ltd, Enoki-cho, Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture)

"Taiko" classified as Tokubetu Junmai Sake, or sake made without distilled alcohol added, produced by Sato Syuzo. Co., Ltd, in Enoki-cho, Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture was awarded the gold prize this summer in the "London Sake Challenge," a Japanese sake competition held in the UK. Katashi Sato, the company president, showed his eagerness for sake brewing, saying, "I want to make an even greater effort."

The competition was hosted by the "Sake Sommelier Academy" the organization for learning about Japanese sake in the UK. Sommeliers from all over the world, including Japan, the UK, Germany and other countries, evaluated the taste and flavor of the exhibited sake. Taiko won the gold prize, the top honor, along with other 22 brands. It is the only prizewinner in the prefecture.

The former president company had run a sake brewery near Nagahama Hatimangu Shrine until 1973, producing a brand named "Kohama." Although the brand was discontinued once, the current company president Sato restored that brewery and the brand. The brand is exported abroad under the name of "Taiko." On the label, characters are written in strong strokes, along with a drawing of Lake Biwa. The bottle is blue, reminiscent of Lake Biwa.

After winning the prize, a 720-milliliter bottle of the sake is being sold for 1,500 yen, excluding tax, at liquor stores and souvenir stores in the city. The domestic sale of "Taiko" brand is limited to the current stock, but sales of "Kohama" will continue.

President Sato said, "I entered the sake thinking to take on a challenge. I hope this will provide people in Japan and abroad with an opportunity to get to know Nagahama."