At the "2024 National New Sake Tasting Competition," co-hosted by the National Research Institute of Brewing and the Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association, both ozeki breweries, Kotobuki and Kowagura, won Gold Awards, marking Kowagura's fourth consecutive year of winning. The National New Sake Tasting Competition is the only nationwide competition to judge the quality of sake produced that year.

Number of entries: 809
Award-winning sake: 410 points (sakes recognized as having excellent results)
Gold medal sake: 202 points (Among the prize-winning sakes, these are those that were recognized as having particularly excellent results.)

List of winning sakes:National Research Institute of Brewing website