2026 National Kanzake Contest: A Record Field, and a Wider Definition of Warm Sake
Japan’s only competition dedicated entirely to sake served warm, the National Kanzake Contest (全国燗酒コンテスト), held its 17th judging on August 4, 2026 — and this year’s results point to a real shift in how the category is being defined. The numbers 227 breweries submitted 971 entries this year, judged blind by a panel of 54…