The Oriental Sake Awards (OSA) offers Japanese sake breweries unparalleled opportunities to showcase excellence, gain recognition across Asian markets, and connect directly with enthusiastic consumers. Our comprehensive promotional program features meticulously designed events that create multiple touch points for your sake to engage with industry professionals, importers, and thousands of passionate sake lovers throughout Hong Kong and beyond.
OSA Judging Days
Event Details
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Date: August 14-16, 2024
- Venue: Function Room, The Mira, Hong Kong
About the Judging
The cornerstone of the Oriental Sake Awards is our rigorous judging process, conducted by approximately 40 distinguished judges, including Co-Chairs and Panel Leaders. Our judging panel brings together a diverse range of expertise and cultural backgrounds, with representatives not only from Hong Kong but also from Japan, Shanghai, Taiwan, Korea, Singapore, Australia, and other regions across Asia.
This cultural and geographical diversity ensures that your sake is evaluated through multiple lenses, providing invaluable insights into how your products might perform across various Asian markets. Each sake is meticulously assessed through a blind tasting process, guaranteeing fair and unbiased evaluation that caters to the unique palates of Asia’s diverse markets.
Benefits for Sake Breweries
Market-Specific Feedback: Receive evaluations tailored to diverse Asian palates, helping you understand regional preferences
Expert Validation: Gain credibility through assessment by renowned sake experts and influential industry professionals
Competitive Benchmarking: Understand how your products stand relative to other sakes in the competition
Product Development Insights: Gather valuable feedback that can inform future product development strategies
Regional Market Intelligence: Gain insights into the unique characteristics valued in different Asian markets
Quality Recognition: Showcase your brewing excellence through internationally recognized awards
Sake Lover Participation
While the judging days are not open to the general public, the results of these sessions directly inform the selection of sakes featured in subsequent public events. Sake enthusiasts eagerly anticipate the announcement of winning sakes, which are showcased at the Hong Kong Sake Festival, Champion Sake Tasting, and OSA Sake Pairing Dinner.
Hong Kong Sake Festival
Event Details
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Date: August 14-16, 2024
- Time: 7pm-10pm
- Venue: Ball Room, The Mira, Hong Kong
Festival Experience
The Hong Kong Sake Festival is the premier sake celebration in Asia, offering sake lovers the opportunity to savor over 1,400 participating sakes in a vibrant, festive atmosphere. Each of the three nights focuses on a unique theme, allowing attendees to explore the diverse flavors and characteristics of different sake regions and styles.
The festival creates a dynamic environment with engaging booths, exciting activities, and entertaining games that enhance the sake tasting experience. This event consistently attracts thousands of sake enthusiasts from Hong Kong and across the region, making it an invaluable platform for sake breweries to connect directly with consumers.
Benefits for Sake Breweries
Direct Consumer Exposure: Showcase your sake to over 1,400 enthusiastic sake lovers in a festive environment
Immediate Consumer Feedback: Gain valuable insights into consumer preferences and reactions to your products
Retail Opportunities: Generate immediate sales through importer booth partnerships
Brand Building: Increase brand awareness and recognition among Hong Kong’s influential sake community
Market Testing: Use themed nights to understand how different product lines resonate with consumers
Competitive Assessment: See firsthand how consumers respond to your products compared to competitors
Sake Lover Appeal
Unparalleled Variety: Explore over 1,400 different sakes, including rare and award-winning varieties
Educational Journey: Discover distinctive regional characteristics through themed nights
Interactive Experience: Engage with entertaining activities and games while sampling exceptional sakes
Purchase Favorites: Buy your discoveries directly from importer booths
Social Celebration: Share your passion with fellow sake enthusiasts in a festive atmosphere
Value-Added Passes: Enhance your experience with multi-night passes that include additional benefits
Sake Workshops
Event Details
- Date: August 14-16, 2024
- Duration: 2 hours per workshop
- Class Size: 20-35 participants per workshop
- Venue: Function Room, The Mira, Hong Kong
Educational Experience
Our specialized sake workshops offer both sake enthusiasts and industry professionals an opportunity to deepen their sake knowledge under the guidance of renowned experts. Led by professionals with impressive credentials, established reputations, and extensive teaching experience, these workshops cover diverse topics to cater to different interests and experience levels.
From sake brewing fundamentals to advanced tasting techniques, from traditional sake culture to innovative pairing approaches, our workshops provide valuable educational experiences that enhance appreciation and understanding of fine sake.
Benefits for Sake Breweries
Consumer Education: Develop more knowledgeable consumers who better understand and appreciate quality sake
Product Showcasing: Feature your sake products as educational examples in relevant workshops
Brand Association: Connect your brewery with professional education and sake expertise
Market Development: Contribute to growing the knowledge base of the Hong Kong sake market
Industry Networking: Connect with workshop instructors who are influential sake educators and promoters
Professional Development: Send your brewery representatives to enhance their knowledge and skills
Sake Lover Appeal
Knowledge Enhancement: Deepen your understanding of sake production, qualities, and appreciation
Expert Access: Learn directly from respected authorities in the sake world
Skill Development: Develop practical skills in sake selection, serving, and pairing
Exclusive Tastings: Sample distinctive sakes selected to illustrate educational concepts
Community Connection: Meet fellow enthusiasts who share your passion for sake culture
Value Addition: Workshops are included in the 3-night Sake-Walker Pass or available separately
Oriental Sake Awards 2024 Ceremony
Event Details
- Date: October 2024
- Duration: 2 hours
- Venue: Hong Kong Japanese Club
Ceremony Experience
The OSA Awards Ceremony is the culmination of the competition, where excellence in sake brewing is celebrated and honored. This prestigious event brings together representatives from sake breweries, importers, judges, media, and other key stakeholders in the sake industry for an elegant evening of recognition and networking.
In addition to awarding champions in various sake categories, the ceremony announces several special awards including the Best in Prefecture, the Most Valuable Producer, three Perfect Match Awards, and the highly coveted Sake of the Year 2024.
Award Categories
Category Champions: Recognized for excellence in specific sake styles
Best in Prefecture: Highlighting outstanding regional representatives
Most Valuable Producer: Celebrating overall brewing excellence
Perfect Match Awards: Honoring sakes with exceptional food pairing potential
Sake of the Year 2024: The ultimate recognition for the competition’s finest sake
Benefits for Sake Breweries
International Recognition: Receive prestigious awards acknowledged throughout Asia
Media Exposure: Gain coverage in both industry publications and mainstream media
Marketing Advantage: Leverage award recognition in your marketing materials and packaging
Importer Connections: Network with potential importers and distributors attending the ceremony
Industry Prestige: Enhance your brewery’s reputation among industry peers
Business Development: Create new business opportunities through increased visibility
Sake Lover Participation
While primarily an industry event, the Awards Ceremony generates significant interest among sake enthusiasts. The announcement of winning sakes creates anticipation for subsequent public events where these award-winning products can be sampled. Media coverage of the awards helps guide consumers in their sake selections throughout the year.
OSA Sake Pairing Dinner
Event Details
- Date: October 2024
- Duration: 3 hours
Pairing Experience
The OSA Sake Pairing Dinner is the ultimate gastronomic celebration of the competition’s champion sakes. This exclusive dining event features the category winners from OSA 2024 thoughtfully paired with seasonal cuisine crafted by selected restaurants. Each exquisite dish is expertly matched with an award-winning sake by professional sommeliers, creating perfect harmony between food and beverage.
The carefully orchestrated progression of pairings demonstrates the versatility of fine sake and its exceptional compatibility with diverse cuisines. Among the eight award-winning sakes showcased during the dinner are rare limited editions making their debut in Hong Kong.
Exclusive Offerings
Representatives from several winning breweries attend the dinner, providing insightful commentary on their products and engaging with diners throughout the evening. This creates an intimate atmosphere where sake enthusiasts can learn directly from the masters while enjoying exceptional food pairings.
Benefits for Sake Breweries
Premium Positioning: Showcase your sake in an upscale culinary context
Pairing Expertise: Demonstrate your sake’s versatility and food affinity
Restaurant Connections: Build relationships with influential restaurants and chefs
Affluent Consumer Exposure: Connect with discerning diners and potential high-value customers
Professional Context: Present your sake alongside fine cuisine in an elegant setting
Culinary Integration: Position your products within Hong Kong’s renowned dining scene
Sake Lover Appeal
Gastronomic Excellence: Enjoy expertly prepared cuisine from selected restaurants
Perfect Pairings: Experience the harmony of champion sakes with complementary dishes
Rare Discoveries: Taste limited edition sakes making their Hong Kong debut
Brewery Insights: Interact with representatives from award-winning breweries
Educational Enjoyment: Learn about pairing principles while indulging in exceptional food and sake
Exclusive Experience: Participate in a limited-capacity premium sake event
OSA Guidebook 2024
Publication Details
- Date: Q2 2025
Distribution: Awarded Brewers, Supporting Organizations, Corporate and Professional Members of FJSI, Selected Bookstores
Comprehensive Resource
The OSA Guidebook serves as the definitive record of the competition, featuring detailed information about all awarded sakes and their brewers. This professional publication provides lasting documentation of sake excellence, extending the promotional benefits of the competition well beyond the events themselves.
Distributed to industry professionals, sake enthusiasts, and through selected bookstores, the guidebook offers continued exposure for award-winning breweries and serves as an authoritative reference for sake selection throughout the year.
Guidebook Content
Award-Winning Sakes: Comprehensive profiles of all recognized sakes
Brewery Information: Background on the producers behind the winning sakes
Tasting Notes: Professional descriptions of sake characteristics and qualities
Competition Insights: Overview of the judging process and evaluation criteria
Pairing Recommendations: Suggestions for food combinations that complement each sake
Benefits for Sake Breweries
Extended Promotion: Continue receiving exposure long after the competition events
Authoritative Recognition: Be featured in a respected industry publication
Comprehensive Presentation: Have your brewery story and product details professionally presented
Distribution Network: Reach industry professionals, enthusiasts, and new consumers through various distribution channels
Reference Status: Become part of a resource used throughout the year for sake selection
Marketing Material: Receive copies for your own promotional and sales activities
Sake Lover Appeal
Selection Guide: Discover award-winning sakes to seek out throughout the year
Educational Resource: Deepen your sake knowledge with professional tasting notes
Producer Profiles: Learn about the stories behind your favorite sakes
Pairing Inspiration: Find guidance for creating your own sake and food experiences
Collector’s Item: Add to your collection of annual OSA guidebooks
Gift Potential: Share sake knowledge with friends and fellow enthusiasts