Delicious "Summer Strawberry" NO. 1 Decided! Japan's Best is Nara Prefecture's Tenri City "Kajurea no Kotoka 'Gokunatsu no Shizuku' / Strawberry Farm Kajurea"!

The Japan Vegetable Sommelier Association (Location: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director: Eiji Fukui) held the "2nd National Summer Strawberry Championship" (hereinafter referred to as the Championship) on July 3, 2026 (Fri), where the most delicious "Summer Strawberry" NO. 1 was decided by vegetable sommeliers. In this Championship, vegetable sommeliers, who served as evaluators, tasted 27 varieties of summer strawberries sent from production areas across the country, with all information about the production area, variety, and producer kept secret. They judged the deliciousness and determined the most delicious "Summer Strawberry." As a result of the judging, the highest gold award for the "2nd National Summer Strawberry Championship" was awarded to "Kajurea no Kotoka 'Gokunatsu no Shizuku'" submitted by Strawberry Farm Kajurea in Tenri City, Nara Prefecture.

While "summer strawberries" are often perceived as "strong in acidity" or "firm flesh and suitable for processing," many varieties now possess sweetness, aroma, smooth flesh, and a light, fluffy texture that overturns these preconceptions. Thanks to the passionate dedication and tireless efforts of producers and everyone involved with strawberries, it feels like we have entered an era where delicious domestic strawberries can be enjoyed as they are, year-round.

- Results List

Award Content

Product Name at Sale

Farming Household/Organization Name

Production Area

Highest Gold Award

Kajurea no Kotoka 'Gokunatsu no Shizuku'

Strawberry Farm Kajurea

Tenri City, Nara Prefecture

Gold Award

Yayoi-hime

Toyota Motor Corporation, Kamigo Plant

Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture

Gold Award

Shimokawa Town's Natsu-ichigo

Todakensetsu Co., Ltd. Ichinohashi Farm

Shimokawa, Kamikawa District, Hokkaido

Gold Award

Hinohime

Berries Miyota

Miyota Town, Kitasaku District, Nagano Prefecture

Gold Award

Kaorino

Toyota Motor Corporation, Kamigo Plant

Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture

Silver Award

Summer Lyrical

Kogen no Echoes

Fujimi Town, Suwa District, Nagano Prefecture

Silver Award

Kanmurii

Yoshwa La Fraise

Hatsukaichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture

Silver Award

ASK1-1 (Variety with Naming Rights)

DAIICHI JITSUGYO CO., LTD.

Nagano Prefecture

Bronze Award

Natsu-otome

Takase Strawberry Garden

Nasushiobara City, Tochigi Prefecture

Bronze Award

Koihime

Nakaoka Seedling Company

Ina City, Nagano Prefecture

- Honorable Mention: Saika / DOG SOUTH Co., Ltd. / Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture

- Honorable Mention: Salad na Ichigo® Shiro / Morisonoe / Date City, Hokkaido

- Honorable Mention: Kitz Strawberry / KITZ Co., Ltd. Atsuma Town Strawberry House / Atsuma Town, Yufutsu District, Hokkaido

- Honorable Mention: Ama-azumi / JA Azumi Summer-Autumn Strawberry Association / Azumino City, Nagano Prefecture

Award list is

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≪Highest Gold Award≫ Kajurea no Kotoka 'Gokunatsu no Shizuku' / Strawberry Farm Kajurea (Tenri City, Nara Prefecture)

≪Highest Gold Award≫ Kajurea no Kotoka 'Gokunatsu no Shizuku' / Strawberry Farm Kajurea (Tenri City, Nara Prefecture)

<Evaluator Comments>

- I was surprised by the rich flavor at this time of year. The balance of sweetness and acidity is good, and the lingering aroma is also substantial. The smooth flesh with a pleasant mouthfeel makes you want to eat it again.

- Deep red color and a plump form with a rich, weighty sweetness and moderate acidity! Everything about it was wonderful.

- When you put it in your mouth, a gentle sweetness and a gorgeous aroma spread, making you feel happy just from that. The aftertaste leaves a refreshing acidity, creating a perfect balance. The sleek form is also beautiful, an elegant item.

<Producer's Commitment Points>

These are Kotoka strawberries carefully grown one by one in Tenri City, Nara Prefecture. Although it is a variety that normally finishes harvesting in spring, summer harvesting has been achieved through thorough management of the cultivation environment. Please enjoy this rare summer Kotoka with its rich sweetness, mellow aroma, and deep flavor.

<Inquiries>

https://www.kajurare.com/

≪Gold Award≫ Yayoi-hime / Toyota Motor Corporation, Kamigo Plant (Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture)

≪Gold Award≫ Yayoi-hime / Toyota Motor Corporation, Kamigo Plant (Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture)

<Evaluator Comments>

- Moist and smooth flesh. The milky, slightly tropical fruit-like sweetness and acidity are to my liking!

- Light sweetness and a sweet aroma when placed in the mouth. Both interact to create a good flavor. The salmon pink of the cross-section is also beautiful.

<Producer's Commitment Points>

We hope you will taste the strawberries being cultivated through Toyota's CN technology demonstration "Year-round Cultivation Technology for Agriculture and Strawberries in Factories." Please experience the sweetness that is rarely tasted in summer.

≪Gold Award≫ Shimokawa Town's Natsu-ichigo / Todakensetsu Co., Ltd. Ichinohashi Farm (Shimokawa Town, Kamikawa District, Hokkaido)

≪Gold Award≫ Shimokawa Town's Natsu-ichigo / Todakensetsu Co., Ltd. Ichinohashi Farm (Shimokawa Town, Kamikawa District, Hokkaido)

<Evaluator Comments>

- The shape is beautifully formed and the red color is vivid, which is good. The contrast with the cream color of the cross-section is also nice. It's juicy, low in acidity, and sweet, so it's delicious!

- Gorgeous aroma, the color is generally light, but the sweetness is substantial and the balance with acidity is good. The flesh is soft and very delicious! The size is also wonderful.

<Producer's Commitment Points>

We grow rare summer strawberries in a harsh yet beautiful land with a temperature difference of 60°C between seasons. In a town working on SDGs for community development, we carefully cultivate "strawberries challenging the future" while utilizing renewable energy and engaging in collaborations between agriculture and welfare. Please try our special berries, packed with our efforts and sweetness, which are kind to both people and the environment.

<Inquiries>

https://shimokawa-ichigo.com/

≪Gold Award≫ Hinohime / Berries Miyota (Miyota Town, Kitasaku District, Nagano Prefecture)

≪Gold Award≫ Hinohime / Berries Miyota (Miyota Town, Kitasaku District, Nagano Prefecture)

<Evaluator Comments>

- Deep, rich flavor. The balance of elegant sweetness and refreshing acidity is good. The aroma is also excellent!

- The shape, color, and cross-section are all good! The flesh has a moderate firmness, and while the acidity is substantial, the rich sweetness makes it very juicy!

<Producer's Commitment Points>

We aim for strawberries that have a rich flavor even in summer, with a solid sweetness and a refreshing quality, achieved through a commitment to harvesting at peak ripeness.

<Inquiries>

https://www.instagram.com/berries_miyota/

≪Gold Award≫ Kaorino / Toyota Motor Corporation, Kamigo Plant (Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture)

≪Gold Award≫ Kaorino / Toyota Motor Corporation, Kamigo Plant (Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture)

<Evaluator Comments>

- I was surprised by the sweetness, which made me want to exclaim "Sweet!" the moment I put it in my mouth. The soft flesh and gorgeous aroma were elegant, a luxurious taste I'd want to give as a gift to someone special.

- It's a charming strawberry with a gentle sweetness and a moderate acidity, allowing you to fully appreciate its deliciousness. It's characterized by a gorgeous aroma like apples or peaches.

<Producer's Commitment Points>

We hope you will taste the strawberries being cultivated through Toyota's CN technology demonstration "Year-round Cultivation Technology for Agriculture and Strawberries in Factories." Please experience the sweetness that is rarely tasted in summer.

≪Silver Award≫ Summer Lyrical / Kogen no Echoes (Fujimi Town, Suwa District, Nagano Prefecture)

≪Silver Award≫ Summer Lyrical / Kogen no Echoes (Fujimi Town, Suwa District, Nagano Prefecture)

<Evaluator Comments>

- Smooth mouthfeel and strong sweetness! A refreshing and impressive taste. At this time of year, it's a high-level item with such a solid richness, and a good balance of sweetness and acidity!

- The firm flesh has presence, and the rich aroma, similar to jasmine or orchid flowers, along with the well-balanced sugar-to-acid ratio, was all impactful.

<Producer's Commitment Points>

There are still many challenges to overcome in the distribution of summer strawberries, especially in delivering delicious strawberries in summer. Ten years ago, there were far more problems to solve than now. During that time, we have questioned all existing customs and common sense, analyzed the characteristics of everbearing strawberries from scratch, experimented, and established our own cultivation methods.

<Inquiries>

https://www.instagram.com/kougen.no.echoes/

≪Silver Award≫ Kanmurii / Yoshwa La Fraise (Hatsukaichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture)

≪Silver Award≫ Kanmurii / Yoshwa La Fraise (Hatsukaichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture)

<Evaluator Comments>

- Its gorgeous aroma is distinctive and spreads throughout the mouth as you chew, leaving a lingering aftertaste. It has a good balance of substantial sweetness and refreshing acidity, making each berry highly complete.

- The skin is firm, but the flesh is moderately soft when bitten. The sweet aroma and abundant juice spread, providing high satisfaction and making it enjoyable to eat fresh!

<Producer's Commitment Points>

We grow them on the Yoshwa Kanmuri Plateau at an altitude of 750m. Located in the headwaters of the Ota River, the environment, blessed with high-purity water rich in magnesium and the temperature difference between day and night unique to the plateau, allows for the cultivation of strawberries with high sugar content and a mellow aroma. We meticulously cultivate each berry by thoroughly using the three-bud pruning method. Awarded the Highest Gold Award at the 1st National Summer Strawberry Championship in July 2025.

<Inquiries>

https://www.yoshiwa15.com/

≪Silver Award≫ ASK1-1 (Variety with Naming Rights) / DAIICHI JITSUGYO CO., LTD. (Nagano Prefecture)

≪Silver Award≫ ASK1-1 (Variety with Naming Rights) / DAIICHI JITSUGYO CO., LTD. (Nagano Prefecture)

<Evaluator Comments>

- The aroma is light and not overpowering, and it's sweet yet very elegant! The acidity is not sharp or unpleasant, making it a strawberry that instinctively makes you a fan.

- It has a crisp texture and a sharp acidity, followed by a light, sweet aroma. It has a wild feel and a powerful taste. I felt a charm that made me want to eat it again.

<Producer's Commitment Points>

Refreshing sweetness × Elegant aroma. Unlike typical summer-autumn strawberries (mainly for commercial and processing use with strong acidity), this is a new summer-autumn strawberry with high sugar content, mild acidity, and enjoyable to eat fresh.

Beautiful Fruit Shape: Plump conical shape, glossy bright red color. The appearance quality meets the demand for gifts and parlor consumption.

<Inquiries>

https://djkberrys.djk.co.jp/

≪Special Award≫

Two special awards, "Rich Flesh" and "Supreme Acidity," have been added.

These are awarded to the summer strawberries that received the most votes from the vegetable sommeliers who served as evaluators.

<Rich Flesh> Yayoi-hime / Toyota Motor Corporation, Kamigo Plant (Production Area: Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture)

<Rich Flesh>

Yayoi-hime / Toyota Motor Corporation, Kamigo Plant (Production Area: Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture)

<Rich Flesh> Kajurea no Kotoka 'Gokunatsu no Shizuku' / Strawberry Farm Kajurea (Tenri City, Nara Prefecture)

<Rich Flesh>

Kajurea no Kotoka 'Gokunatsu no Shizuku' / Strawberry Farm Kajurea (Tenri City, Nara Prefecture)

<Rich Flesh> Kanmurii / Yoshwa La Fraise (Hatsukaichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture)

<Rich Flesh>

Kanmurii / Yoshwa La Fraise (Hatsukaichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture)

<Supreme Acidity> Pechika Core / JA Azumi Summer-Autumn Strawberry Association (Azumino City, Nagano Prefecture)

<Supreme Acidity>

Pechika Core / JA Azumi Summer-Autumn Strawberry Association (Azumino City, Nagano Prefecture)

Voices from the Evaluators

● Vegetable Sommelier Pro, Kyoko Miyaji

"Reason for selecting the Highest Gold Award as the most delicious summer strawberry"

- It's a taste that makes you feel happy after eating, with not only the characteristic acidity of summer strawberries but also a gentle sweetness and a gorgeous aroma. I chose it based on the balance.

"Trends of this year's National Summer Strawberry Championship (Overall Review)"

- I was surprised by the many varieties with sweetness, aroma, and soft flesh that overturned the concept of summer strawberries being hard and acidic. Producing summer strawberries itself must be very difficult in recent years with severe summer heat, but I am grateful that such unique and attractive strawberries are being created within that context.

● Vegetable Sommelier, Satoshi Nakatani

"Reason for selecting the Highest Gold Award as the most delicious summer strawberry"

- As you eat from the stem to the tip, you can enjoy a wonderful gradation from acidity to sweetness. In addition, a fragrant aroma spreads through the back of your nose throughout. It's a luxurious strawberry, like traveling around the world in a single bite.

"Trends of this year's National Summer Strawberry Championship (Overall Review)"

- It was a championship where judging a single berry was truly difficult. This is because, while retaining the characteristic acidity of summer strawberries, each berry is made with a focus on subtle "sweetness" and "firmness," making each one very profound. Such delicate flavors may be unique to summer strawberries.

Judging Overview

Organizer: General Incorporated Association Japan Vegetable Sommelier Association

Date Held: July 3, 2026 (Fri) 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM

Venue: Toyosu Market (Fruits and Vegetables Building) 2F Conference Room, Fruits and Vegetables Building, 6-5-1 Toyosu, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-0061

Judges: 29 individuals holding Vegetable Sommelier qualifications

Judging Method: Taste evaluation with product information kept confidential

Awards: 1 Highest Gold Award / 4 Gold Awards / 3 Silver Awards / 2 Bronze Awards / 4 Honorable Mentions / 4 Special Awards

"2nd National Summer Strawberry Championship" Special Website

https://www.vege-fru.com/ichigo/summit/s2th/

Judging Scene Judging Scene

Judging Scene All 27 Entries for the 2nd National Summer Strawberry Championship

【About the National Fruits and Vegetables Championship】

The National Fruits and Vegetables Championship is a competition where "Vegetable Sommeliers," professionals in vegetables and fruits, select the most delicious vegetables and fruits. Its purpose is to support producers and contribute to the revitalization of Japanese agriculture by evaluating and widely disseminating valuable and delicious produce. Winning an award increases recognition, leading to expanded sales channels and increased sales. Feedback from vegetable sommeliers, who serve as evaluators, can be used for future development.

Entries are currently being accepted for the "5th National Peach Championship (held on July 31)" and the "5th National Edamame Championship (held on August 5)."

URL: https://www.vege-fru.com/event/seika/

What is a "Vegetable Sommelier"?

A specialist who has acquired knowledge of vegetables and fruits and can spread their appeal and value to society. The mission of a "Vegetable Sommelier" is to be a bridge between producers and consumers. Currently, many people are challenging themselves to advance their careers, change careers, use their knowledge for the health of their families and friends, and even contribute to society. (Total number of students: 72,685 as of the end of March 2026)

【Operating Organization】 General Incorporated Association Japan Vegetable Sommelier Association

Founded: August 7, 2001 Representative Director: Eiji Fukui Location: MAC Shibuya Building 6F, 15-10 Nانpaldai-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Business: Provision and training of Vegetable Sommelier qualifications, planning and provision of various courses and content Homepage: https://www.vege-fru.com

Inquiries: [email protected]