Miss SAKE 2026 to Crown Japan’s New Sake Ambassadors in June

Tokyo: The Miss SAKE Association will hold its 2026 final selection events in Japan to choose ambassadors who will promote the appeal of Japanese sake, traditional culture and Japanese hospitality across the world.

The 2026 Miss SAKE Japan Final Selection Round will take place in Kyoto on Saturday, June 13, 2026, while the 2026 Mrs. SAKE / Mr. SAKE Final Selection Round will be held earlier in Tokyo on Saturday, May 16, 2026. The events are being organised as part of Miss SAKE’s continuing mission to connect the charm of Japanese sake with global audiences through culture, tourism, tradition and international exchange.

The Miss SAKE platform has emerged as a distinctive cultural initiative that goes beyond a beauty or personality contest. It selects representatives who can communicate the story of sake as a symbol of Japan’s craftsmanship, regional diversity, food culture, ceremonial traditions and soft power. The 2026 selection rounds are expected to bring together supporters, cultural stakeholders and guests associated with Japan’s sake and heritage ecosystem.

The Miss SAKE Japan Final Selection Round will be held at The Westin Miyako Hotel Kyoto, in the Mizuho Room, from 5:30 pm to 8:45 pm, with doors opening at 4:30 pm. The event will feature all-table seating for eight to ten guests, along with a course dinner and drinks. Guests have been encouraged, where possible, to attend in kimono or attire incorporating Japanese elements, underlining the event’s emphasis on traditional elegance and cultural presentation.

The Kyoto event is being organised by the Miss SAKE Association. It is expected to receive support from several prominent Japanese institutions, including the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry; National Tax Agency; Agency for Cultural Affairs; Japan Tourism Agency; Cabinet Office Intellectual Property Strategy Headquarters; Japan External Trade Organization; Japan National Tourism Organization; Japan Sake Brewers Association; Japan Sake Brewers Youth Council; Kyoto Prefecture; and Kyoto City. Heckel has been named as a special cooperation partner.

The regular ticket price for the Kyoto final selection is 30,000 yen per person, while a special price of 25,000 yen, including tax, has been announced for interested parties and stakeholders. The sales period for the special ticket category will remain open until Wednesday, June 3, 2026.

Before the Kyoto finale, the Mrs. SAKE / Mr. SAKE Final Selection Round will be organised at Kanda Myojin Hall in Tokyo on May 16, 2026. The venue is located at the Kanda Myojin Cultural Exchange Center, 2F, 2-16-2 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. Doors will open at 4:30 pm, the show will begin at 5:00 pm, and the programme is expected to conclude at 8:00 pm.

The Tokyo event will also be organised by the Miss SAKE Association, with the Japan Association for the Promotion of Traditional Costume Culture as co-sponsor. All seats will be arranged at tables, with meals and drinks included. Participation is open to guests aged 20 years or older.

For the Tokyo final selection, the regular ticket price is 10,000 yen per person, while a special price of 8,000 yen, including tax, has been offered for stakeholders and interested parties.

The 2026 edition is expected to further strengthen the role of Miss SAKE, Mrs. SAKE and Mr. SAKE as cultural ambassadors who can represent Japan’s sake industry and associated traditions before international audiences. Through these events, the Miss SAKE Association aims to highlight sake not only as a traditional Japanese beverage but also as a cultural bridge linking craftsmanship, cuisine, tourism, kimono culture and global friendship.

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