The 2026 global expansion journey

In early 2026, Premium Table Rice Sake was carried as one consistent message across the U.S. West Coast, Taiwan, and Japan—prompted by an urgent need for new export channels and a stronger brand strategy.

Global presence at a glance

Premium Table Rice Sake reaches three regions—the U.S. West Coast, Taiwan, and Europe—carried as one consistent message: 100% Uonuma Koshihikari, brewed in the snow country of Tsunan. "We are exporting the snow, the soil, and the spirit of Tsunan."

Markets

• U.S. West Coast Premium dining and outdoor lifestyle. Pairing dinners in Portland and Seattle and a sake-and-fire experience opened distributor conversations on the West Coast.
• Taiwan — Asia's gateway Exhibited with strategic local partner HUKUHAKU at the Taipei Fine Wine Exhibition in the pre–Lunar New Year peak season, a market with deep sake understanding.
• Europe — international recognition Recognized at international competitions: Kura Master in France (2024 Gold) and Milano Sake Challenge in Italy (2025 Platinum).

Awards as global validation

A category needs a proof point. GO GRANDCLASS Uonuma Koshihikari Edition has been validated abroad:

• Kura Master 2024 Gold Award — Junmai Daiginjo category, GO GRANDCLASS Uonuma Koshihikari Edition (the sake competition held in France).
• Milano Sake Challenge 2025 Platinum — GO GRANDCLASS Uonuma Koshihikari Edition (Italy).
• Echigo-Style Sake Brewing Technical Competition (FY Reiwa 6) — Niigata Governor's Award, 1st place — awarded to the "Tsunan" label.

Full list with sources: Awards. Detail on the flagship: GO GRANDCLASS.

Coverage

The global expansion is documented in independent press, contracted editorial placements, and official releases:

• The Japan Times (Comfacts) — Portland / Nodoguro · Seattle / Shiku Sushi · Taipei Fine Wine Exhibition · Greece cultural exchange
• EIN Presswire — Portland / Nodoguro · Seattle / Shiku Sushi · Taipei Fine Wine Exhibition
• Forbes JAPAN — metaverse "Lunar Brewery" feature, via the brewery's official notice
• Official — tsunan-sake.com · Greece & terroir
• Full list: Press coverage

The journey, event by event

United States — premium dining × lifestyle

• 10 Jan 2026

  Nodoguro — Portland, Oregon

  A pairing dinner at the acclaimed Japanese restaurant Nodoguro with chef Ryan Roadhouse. The global debut event for Premium Table Rice Sake, pairing the GO series with a Japanese course.

  Press coverage →
• 14 Jan 2026

  Shiku Sushi — Seattle, Washington

  A GO GRANDCLASS experience at the long-established Shiku Sushi in the historic Ballard district, with concrete distributor conversations on the U.S. West Coast.

  Press coverage →
• Jan 2026

  Snow Peak Takibi — Portland, Oregon

  A sake-and-fire experience at Takibi, the restaurant run by outdoor brand Snow Peak—reaching an outdoor and lifestyle audience.

Taiwan — Asia's gateway

• 23–26 Jan 2026

  Taipei Fine Wine Exhibition — Taipei, Taiwan

  Exhibited with strategic local partner HUKUHAKU in the pre–Lunar New Year peak season. GO GRANDCLASS Uonuma Koshihikari Edition tasting, presenting Premium Table Rice Sake to Taiwan—Asia’s gateway and a market with deep sake understanding.

  Press coverage →

Japan — the home base and broadcast

• 17 Dec 2025

  Uis'mas — Kawasaki, Japan

  At Fujitsu Uvance Kawasaki Tower (hosted by Uvance Innovation Studio): introduced GO GRANDCLASS and the overseas-expansion strategy at an open innovation gathering.

  Press release →
• 20 Jan 2026

  Institute of Science Tokyo seminar — Yushima

  "Ishoku-dogen × pre-symptomatic control frontier seminar": GO GRANDCLASS’s global expansion and its functional and cultural value, with a guided experience of the "Lunar Brewery" metaverse.

  Press release →
• 18–20 Feb 2026

  Supermarket Trade Show 2026 — Makuhari Messe

  At one of Japan’s largest trade shows: GO GRANDCLASS and the GO / Tsunan series proposed to nationwide retail, mass-merchandise and foodservice channels, highlighting snow-country terroir and overseas awards.

  Press release →
• 20 Feb 2026

  Toyosunakku #4 — Toyosu, Tokyo

  A tasting talk event at LIFESTYLE LAB TOYONOMA on snow-country terroir brewing and the global expansion of Uonuma-Koshihikari table-rice sake.

  Press release →