The National Research Institute of Brewing has announced the winners of its annual sake contest, in which 33 products from Fukushima Prefecture earned awards. The tally marks the largest number for the prefecture since the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake.
　In the contest, sake products manufactured in the 2019 brewing year -- July 2019 to June 2020 -- were screened by the institute, which is based in Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture.
　By prefecture, Fukushima tied with Nagano Prefecture for second place after Niigata Prefecture, from which 39 sake products were awarded. This year, gold prize winners were not selected, as the final screening was canceled due to the outbreak of the new coronavirus.
　Fukushima Prefecture is home to the largest number of gold prize winners for seven consecutive years from the 2012 to 2018 brewing years. Although the prefecture has to wait until the next contest to renew its record, this year's contest highlighted a high level of brewing techniques in the prefecture.
　The contest had 850 entries from across Japan, of which 433 were awarded. Hyogo Prefecture ranked fourth with 24 prizewinning products, followed by Akita with 21.

　酒類総合研究所（広島県東広島市）は２２日、２０１９酒造年度（１９年７月～２０年６月）に製造された日本酒の出来栄えを競う全国新酒鑑評会の審査結果を発表した。本県は東日本大震災以降最多となる３３点が入賞し、都道府県別では新潟県の３９点に次ぎ、長野県と並んで２番目に多かった。
　新型コロナウイルスの感染拡大の影響で最終審査の決審が中止となり、金賞は選定されなかった。本県は金賞に選ばれた数で７年連続（１２～１８酒造年度）の日本一に輝いている。記録更新は次回に持ち越しとなったものの、醸造技術の高さを改めて示した。
　全国から８５０点の出品があり、入賞は４３３点。４番目に入賞酒が多かったのが兵庫県の２４点で、秋田県が２１点で続いた。

　The characteristics of rice, a raw material that affects the quality of sake, and temperature control, among other factors, differ from year to year. However, brewers in Fukushima Prefecture received guidance from the Aizu-Wakamatsu Technical Support Center and acquired new technical knowhow to deal with various circumstances flexibly.
　When Typhoon No. 19 hit eastern Japan in October last year, some breweries and factories in Koriyama, where rice used for sake is polished, were flooded. In addition, numerous events such as welcome and farewell parties have been canceled amid the coronavirus pandemic, and shipments of sake products have plummeted. Despite these difficulties, Fukushima brewers were able to deliver some bright news to residents of the prefecture.

　日本酒の品質を左右する原料米の特徴や温度管理などはその年によって異なるが、県ハイテクプラザ会津若松技術支援センターの指導を受け、各蔵元が臨機応変に対応できる技術力や判断力を身に付けている。
　昨年１０月の東日本台風（台風１９号）では、県内の一部蔵元や酒米を精米している郡山市の工場が浸水被害を受けた。さらに新型コロナの影響で歓送迎会などの中止が相次ぎ、日本酒の出荷量が激減している。本県の蔵元は苦境に立たされる中、全国新酒鑑評会で県民に希望をもたらした。

　The institute selected the winners at a preliminary screening in April, in which judges were limited to its employees. Initially, it had planned to choose a gold prize winner among products that passed the preliminary screening. However, as Hiroshima Prefecture, where the final screening was supposed to be held, had requested that people not move between prefectures following the declaration of a national state of emergency, the institute canceled the final screening as it was difficult for judges to convene.
　According to the institute, the annual sake contest started in 1911 with the aim of improving the quality and production technology of sake. It was canceled in 1945 when World War II ended, as well as in 1995 following the Great Hanshin Earthquake. This is the first time that only a final screening was not held.

　研究所は４月の予審で審査委員を職員に限定し入賞を選定。本来は決審で予審を通過した入賞の中から特に優れた金賞を選ぶ予定だった。しかし、緊急事態宣言を踏まえ、開催地の広島県が県外からの移動自粛を要請していることから、審査委員の招集が困難となり、決審を中止した。
　研究所によると、鑑評会は日本酒の品質や製造技術の向上を目的に１９１１（明治４４）年に始まった。終戦時の４５年と阪神大震災があった９５年は中止となった。決審だけが行われないのは今回が初めて。

　Tasting brings joy
　An event to taste sake products that have earned awards in the national sake contest began at the Fukushima Product Promotion Center in Fukushima City on May 22. Visiting sake lovers tasted brews from the prefecture, which is renowned for its sake production.
　To prevent the spread of the coronavirus, the number of participants in the event is being limited to about 10. Holding a sake cup, a participating woman said with a smile, "It's delicious with a deep and rich taste."　

（　Translated by The Japan News　）

　飲み比べ喜び一杯
　福島市の県観光物産館で２２日、全国新酒鑑評会の入賞酒を飲み比べできるイベントが始まった。訪れた日本酒愛好者が"酒どころふくしま"の一杯を味わった。新型コロナウイルスの感染拡大防止のため、参加者を１０人程度に限定した。参加した女性は猪口（ちょこ）を手に「味が深く、コクがあっておいしい」と笑顔を見せた。

　【　２０２０年５月２３日付・福島民友新聞掲載　】