The winners of the 6th Umaissho Grand Prix 2022 (Hokuryu Town, Hokkaido) are Hokuryu Town in the rice category, Uryu Town in the soba category, and Uryu Town & Hokuryu Town in the sake category.

December 20, 2022
Feature Articles, JA Kitasorachi Hokuryu Branch, Hokuryu Town Hall
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Tuesday, December 20, 2022

The 6th Umaissho Grand Prix, sponsored by the Three Towns Agricultural Improvement Promotion Council (Amuryu Town, Numata Town, and Hokuryu Town), was held at 4:00 p.m. on Monday, December 19th at the Hokuryu Town Community Center (large hall).

The winners of the 6th Umaissho Grand Prix were Hokuryu Town in the rice category, Uryu Town in the soba category, and Uryu Town & Hokuryu Town in the sake category.

table of contents

1 6th Umaissho Grand Prix
2 Past winners
3 YouTube videos
4 Other photos
5 Related articles and sites

6th Umaissho Grand Prix

The three towns of Uryu, Numata, and Hokuryu brought their local specialties of newly harvested rice, newly harvested soba noodles, and sake to compete in a tasting competition. Approximately 40 people participated, including the mayors and town hall staff of the three towns, officials from the Kita Sorachi Agricultural Cooperative, and staff from the Kita Sorachi Branch of the Sorachi Agricultural Improvement and Extension Center, and thoroughly enjoyed the flavors of each dish.

Rice category judging (new rice)

Uryu Town:Uryu rice "Yumepirika"
Numata Town:Snow-grown rice "Yumepirika"
Hokuryu Town:Sunflower rice "Yumepirika"

Soba section judge

Tasting comparison of soba noodles (variety "Kitawase") from three towns

Sake category judge

"Junmai Ginjo Uryu" (produced by Kinteki Sake Brewery Co., Ltd.) is a pure rice ginjo made with 100% "Ginpu" sake rice grown in Uryu Town.
Yukinagori Zuika, a pure rice sake aged in a snow room, is made using 100% Numata-cho-grown "Suisei" sake rice (produced by Takasago Sake Brewery Co., Ltd.).
"Hokuryu Suisei" (Kinteki Shuzo Co., Ltd.) is a pure rice ginjo sake made with 100% "Suisei" sake rice grown in Hokuryu Town.

Opening remarks: Yutaka Sano, Chairman of the Three Towns Agricultural Improvement Promotion Council and Mayor of Hokuryu

I would like to say a few words on the occasion of the 6th Umaissho Grand Prix, which is being hosted by the Agricultural Improvement Promotion Council of the Three Towns of Uryu, Numata, and Hokuryu.

This year, we have been blessed with really good weather since the beginning of July. The rice crop condition index is 106. Most of the protein in Yumepirika is low-protein rice, so we have been able to harvest a lot of delicious rice, which has made the townspeople very happy.

The economic situation for farmers is extremely difficult due to the crisis in Ukraine and the soaring prices of production materials such as fertilizer and fuel. The price of new rice has also risen for the first time in three years, but I believe the difficult situation will continue.

People say that Hokkaido rice has become really delicious these days. I think that the rice from this area of Kita-Sorachi, consisting of the towns of Uryu, Numata, and Hokuryu, is the most delicious in Hokkaido.

The other day, Rankoshi Town sent us some newly harvested rice. As a token of appreciation, we sent them some sunflower rice, and they immediately called us and praised us, saying, "You've beaten us, Mayor! Hokuryu Town's rice is tastier." I believe the rice from this region has become the most delicious.

I believe this is all thanks to the efforts of everyone involved in agriculture, including Mr. Tagawa, the branch manager, who is here with us today, as well as the guidance of everyone at the Sorachi Extension Center, the JA Agricultural Management Division staff, the town's Industry Division, and everyone else. I would like to express my gratitude. Thank you very much. I look forward to your continued guidance.

The judging will begin immediately after this, and I am really looking forward to seeing what the results will be this year.

"Hokuryu Town has never won the championship with sunflower rice, so we hope to win with sunflower rice. I would like to say a few words to conclude my speech at the tournament. Thank you for your cooperation today," said Mayor Sano in his opening remarks.

Explanation of the screening method

The general moderator will be Keiko Tsuzuki, head of the Industry Division of Hokuryu Town Hall.

Keiko Tsuzuki, Director of the Town Hall Industry Division

We will be judging a tasting of new rice, new soba noodles, and sake from three towns (Uryu, Numata, and Hokuryu).

Judging criteria

Rice:Aroma, gloss, sweetness, stickiness, texture
Soba:Aroma, texture, smoothness
Japanese sake:Aroma, flavor, richness, and aftertaste

Considering all the criteria, please circle the one you think is the tastiest and vote.

Judging: Rice category

The rice is served freshly cooked in the same rice cooker.

Judging: Soba section

The soba noodles are freshly made and boiled by the staff of the Soba Shokuraku Club Hokuryu in the kitchen on the first floor of the community center.

Soba noodles with beautiful color, luster and aroma

Judging: Sake category

Carefully examining the differences in taste

vote

After the judging, each person goes to the ballot box.

Vote counting

Hokuryu Town wins in the rice and sake categories!

Award Ceremony

Announcement of the judging results

Victory·Rice category: Hokuryu Town
Winner - Soba category: Uryu Town
Victory·Sake category:Uryu TownHokuryu Town

Award

Winner: Soba Noodles Category: Uryu Town

Winners' speeches from each division

Winner in the rice category: Kitakiyo Hirokuni, Representative Director of Kitasorachi Agricultural Cooperative, Hokuryu District, Hokuryu Town

Kitasorachi Agricultural Cooperative Association Hokuryu District Representative Director, Kitakiyo Hirokuni

"At the beginning, Mayor Sano mentioned that we did not win first prize for our rice, but this year we have won an amazing first prize for our rice. This year's Hokuryu Town-grown rice, "Yumepirika," has a low-protein content of over 80%, and if you include rice with a content of 7.4 or less, the percentage is 96%. This means that we have been able to harvest delicious rice that is essentially low in protein.

Furthermore, the amylose content is less than 19%, so I feel that the rice will be delicious no matter where it is sold. This year's weather has been excellent for crops, and I think it has made it through to autumn.

Although the environment is harsh, one of the joys for farmers is being able to harvest delicious rice.

I hope that next year will be a good one. I would like to thank everyone for helping us get first place. Thank you very much," said the representative from the Beiqing region.

Soba Category Winner: Mayor of Uryu Town, Mr. Takashi Nishino

"I was hoping to win one today, but I'm happy that I got two. The only thing I won was sake. Last year we held the event in Uryu Town, and I'd like to thank everyone for coming today," said Mayor Nishino.

Commentary: Yoichi Tagawa, Director of the Kita-Sorachi Branch of the Sorachi Agricultural Improvement and Extension Center

"The FIFA World Cup ended yesterday, but today such an amazing Grand Prix took place.

Rice sectionHowever, this year we were able to harvest delicious rice with a very high protein content.
"Yumepirika" is produced in three towns in such close proximity to each other, and I think the unique flavors of the rice from each town really come through.
　

The rice from Hokuryu Town, which came in first place, is very distinctive, being sticky and soft. I think sticky rice is more suitable for the elderly.
The second place rice from Uryu Town has a nice texture and is crisp, so I think it is more suited to young men.
The third place rice from Numata Town is sweet and refreshing, and I think it's a flavor that suits women.

Both are equally delicious rice.

Soba sectionYou might think that the colors look different at first glance, but I think the color varies slightly depending on how the powder is ground.
　

The soba noodles from Uryu Town, which came in first place, were sweet and had a rich flavor.
The second place winner, Numata Town's soba noodles, have a firm texture and a dark color, and I felt that they paired perfectly with the soup.
The third place winner, Hokuryu Town's soba noodles, had a sweet, fragrant taste and a refreshing flavor.

Sake CategoryIn this category, two towns tied for first place.
Both the sake from Uryu and Hokuryu is from Kinteki Brewery. They were very delicious.
　

The sake from Uryu Town, which came in first place, had a rich, spicy taste. I think it's more of a drink that people who like alcohol will enjoy.
The sake from Hokuryu Town, which also came in first place, has a clean taste that develops later on, which I think is suitable for women.
The third place winner, Numata Town sake, is a rich sake with a rice flavor, and I think it suits better when drunk cold.

The flavors of each of the three towns were apparent.
Regarding soba, the demand for domestically produced soba is increasing because soba produced overseas cannot be used. Hokkaido soba is attracting a lot of attention, so I hope that it will continue to grow.

When it comes to alcohol, tourists often say, "Hokkaido rice has gotten tastier, but sake has gotten tastier too."

"I hope that consumption of rice, soba, sake, etc. will continue to grow, leading to the development of the region. Thank you for your hard work today," said the Tagawa branch chief in his comments.

Closing Remarks

Mr. Hirokuni Kitakiyo, Vice Chairman of the Three Towns Agricultural Improvement Promotion Council and Representative Director of Kitasorachi Agricultural Cooperative Association, Hokuryu District

"Thank you to everyone at the Hokuryu Town Hall Industry Division for all your hard work today, from organizing the work to the final grading. Thanks to you, we had a wonderful time.

What makes me happiest today is that, as I mentioned earlier, we won first place for rice. I am extremely pleased that we have finally won first place in our sixth year after more than five years.

The rice from each town is pretty much the same in taste. Some may be a little softer than others, but I think the taste is pretty much the same.

The towns of Uryu, Hokuryu, and Numata, located on the west bank of the Uryu River, share the same climate and geography. I believe that if each town could deepen its exchange of cultivation techniques and new cultivation methods, it would be beneficial for local farmers. I look forward to your cooperation.

In closing, we are now less than two weeks into this year. This year has been a year in which we have been at the mercy of COVID-19. I sincerely hope that next year will be a year in which we can forget about COVID-19 and enjoy good weather.

"I would like to conclude my remarks by wishing you all the best in your future endeavors. Thank you very much for joining us today," said the Kitasei District Representative Director.

With gratitude for the Three Towns Umaissho Grand Prix!
(Mayor, Hokuryu Town Hall, and JA Kitasorachi Hokuryu Branch)

With boundless love, gratitude, and prayers, we offer our heartfelt thanks to the 6th Umaissho Grand Prix, where participants can enjoy the unique flavors of each of the three towns, savoring their newly harvested rice, new soba, and sake.

With gratitude to the 6th Umaisho Grand Prix!

Past winners

1st (2017) Rice category: Numata Town,Soba category: Hokuryu Town
2nd (2018) Rice category: Uryu Town, Buckwheat category: Uryu Town
3rd (2019) Rice category: Uryu Town,Soba category: Hokuryu Town、Sake category: Hokuryu Town
4th (2020) Rice category: Uryu Town, Soba category: Uryu Town, Sake category: Uryu Town
5th (2021) Rice Category: Numata Town,Soba category: Hokuryu Town、Sake category: Hokuryu Town
6th (2022)Rice category: Hokuryu Town, Soba section: Uryu Town,Sake Category: Uryu TownHokuryu Town

YouTube videos

Other photos

Photos (75 photos) from the 6th Umaissho Grand Prix 2022 are here >>