KENJunmai Ginjo

Winner of top honors at the 2019 IWC (UK), Gold at Kura Master (France), Gold at the Australian Sake Awards, and First Place at Japanʼs Sake Competition ― KEN is the sake that brought the name Katsuyama to the attention of the world.

Its roots lie in brewing traditions once reserved for the Daté Clan: the Nanto morohaku method, the “Ki-ippon” style perfected in Nada during the late Edo period, and the heritage of the Nanbu Toji Terui school. These techniques, refined over centuries, culminated in a historic First Place at the 1956 National Sake Competition.

In 1986, Katsuyamaʼs 11th-generation head, Heiichi Isawa, anticipating the wave of Western dining culture, created KEN with the vision of a “table sake as refined and graceful as Grace Kelly.” Since its selection in 2010 for ANAʼs international long-haul flights, KEN has become the embodiment of Katsuyamaʼs style ― retaining the rich fragrance of premium rice, while achieving a graceful, full-bodied profile shaped by elegant fermentation. Its clean sweetness and layered umami offer a perfect balance, making it a sake that complements a diverse range of modern cuisines without ever losing its distinctive identity.

Tasting Notes

• A harmonious balance of the gentle sweetness from the saccharification of Yamadanishiki rice and the layered umami born of fermentation.
• Pairs effortlessly with a wide range of cuisines ― from Japanese to Italian and Chinese ― while extending and enhancing the lingering umami of the dish.