Tango Kura, a Kyotango City distillery dedicated to sweet potato shochu, has won a gold medal at the "20th Feminalise World Wine Competition 2026" in the Japanese Distilled Spirits category. The award-winning product is Imonyan 22°, crafted from Kyo Kansho sweet potatoes grown locally in Kyotango.
Beyond the gold medal, Imonyan 22° also earned the highest score in its category, claiming the title of "TOP OF THE BEST" — the first time any entry from the Kyoto region has achieved this distinction at the competition.
Tango Kura produces shochu using ingredients sourced from the local area. The Kyo Kansho sweet potatoes used as the base ingredient are grown in Kyotango and are known for their chestnut-like texture and increasing sweetness during storage. The brewing water comes from a natural spring on the sacred mountain of Kotohira Shrine in Tango.
The Imonyan label features a rare "koma-neko" (guardian cat) figure found at Kotohira Shrine — the same shrine whose spring water flows into every bottle. Conceived as "a proper adult shochu for ladies' nights or quiet personal moments," the spirit is noted for its clean, refreshing taste and vibrant aroma.
About Imonyan
Imonyan is produced by fully peeling Kyo Kansho sweet potatoes and fermenting them using both sake and shochu yeasts, resulting in a refined, smooth finish. The range covers two expressions:
Left: Imonyan 32° / Right: Imonyan 22°
Imonyan 22°
- Volume: 500 ml
- Alcohol: 22%
- Price: ¥1,980 (tax included)
Imonyan 32°
- Volume: 500 ml
- Alcohol: 32%
- Price: ¥3,300 (tax included)
Both expressions are available through the Tango Kingdom online shop:
https://tango-kingdom-onlineshop.com/SHOP/tangokura-imonyan.html
Note: A bottle and cap redesign is planned for early May, and a price revision is expected to accompany it. Details will be announced on the Tango Kura official website (https://tangokura.com/) when ready.
About the Feminalise World Wine Competition
Held in France — the heartland of wine — the Feminalise World Wine Competition is a globally recognized contest judged exclusively by female experts including sommeliers, winemakers, and chefs. The 20th edition took place over two days on March 3 and 4, 2026, in Beaune, France. A total of 2,544 entries from eight countries (including 295 from Japan) were assessed by 165 judges.
Competition website: https://feminalise-japon.com
