What is SAKURA AWARDS?
The Biggest International Wine Competition in Asia
Message from Yumi Tanabe, president of “SAKURA” Japan Women’s Wine Awards
The Sakura Awards were founded to introduce wine lovers to bottles that complement everyday dining and reflect the richness of food culture. As the ways people enjoy wine continue to diversify, the Awards place particular emphasis on how wines pair with cuisine, including Japanese food. Entries are evaluated with a wide range of occasions in mind, from family meals and restaurants to gifts and everyday moments of relaxation. The competition also highlights the appeal of diverse wine styles, including rosé, orange, dessert, fortified, and sparkling wines.
Reflecting growing health awareness and changing lifestyles, the Sakura Awards are also drawing attention to emerging categories such as non-alcoholic and low-alcohol wines, as well as flavored wines. By presenting a broader range of options, the Awards aim to make wine more approachable and enjoyable, especially for those who are new to the category.
From Award to Brand: Building Long-Term Value
A Sakura Award is more than a mark of quality; it is a trusted point of reference that helps consumers choose wine with confidence. Looking ahead, we will strengthen our communication through social media and other channels, sharing the appeal of award-winning wines with a broader audience in a clear and engaging way. We also see strong potential to raise recognition not only in Japan but across Asia, to respond to growing interest in sustainable wines, and to spotlight Japan’s expanding winery scene, which now includes more than 500 producers. Through these initiatives, we aim to develop the Sakura Awards from a wine competition into a brand with lasting value. Together with international producers, Japanese producers, importers, distributors, and retailers, we hope to establish the award logo as a trusted symbol that connects consumers with wines that enhance the dining experience.
Global Reach: 3,715 Entries from 37 Countries
The 13th Sakura Awards received 3,715 entries from a record 37 countries, reflecting the competition’s growing international presence. Judging is conducted blind, allowing wines to be assessed comprehensively on taste, balance, individuality, and food-pairing potential, without influence from brand name or region of origin. Judges are informed only of the grape variety and vintage. Based on this evaluation, wines are awarded Diamond Trophy, Double Gold, Gold, and Silver medals, as well as food-pairing and other special awards.
The wines entered from around the world showcase not only the consistent quality of established wine regions, but also the creativity of emerging regions and the distinct character of individual producers. For consumers in Japan, the Sakura Awards provide a valuable guide to wine selection. For international producers, the competition offers an important platform for building connections with the Japanese market.
A Trusted Competition Judged by Female Wine Professionals
The Sakura Awards are an international wine competition judged by female professionals active across the wine industry. The competition is guided by three core aims: helping consumers discover wines that pair well with food, encouraging wine enjoyment in Japan, and creating more opportunities for women to take an active role in the industry. Judges include sommeliers, wine educators, wine journalists, importers, and professionals involved in distribution and retail—experts who connect wine with consumers in their daily work.
A defining feature of the Sakura Awards is its focus on real dining occasions and everyday consumption, combined with the perspective of women working at the forefront of the wine industry. Rather than evaluating quality alone, the competition considers wines from a consumer-focused perspective, asking how each wine can be enjoyed with food and in what moments it is most likely to be chosen. In doing so, the Sakura Awards communicate the appeal of wines that fit naturally into daily life.
ObjectOur mission consists of three pillars; 
Our judges are female experts who lead broad range of wine industries in Japan. Sommeliers, producers, school instructors, journalists, importers, distributors and sales, they are all active female professionals in wine industries.
Many wine distributors join us as registered sales partners and help promote the Award winning wines broadly with the full understanding of our activity. Through distribution, retail and whole sales, they are contributing the sales of the awarded wines throughout Japan. The registration is free of charge.
Diamond, Double Gold, Gold and Silver medal stickers are available through our partner company "TENPRINT., Ltd.". They help highlight the award that the wine has earned on the shelves and in various internet shopping sites.