Miss SAKE 2026: Okinawa Representative Riko Kametani to Compete in June Final

The Miss SAKE Okinawa organizing committee has selected Riko Kametani, from Shuri in Naha City, as the 2026 Miss SAKE Okinawa representative. Kametani attended the finalist announcement event on March 7 and will compete in the final selection on June 13 at the Westin Miyako Kyoto.

Miss SAKE is an ambassador program launched in 2013 to promote Japanese sake and culture. It operates in cities worldwide — New York, London, Milan, and more — with over 400 events per year. The Okinawa regional competition started in 2023, making this its fourth year.

From Awamori Country, Promoting Sake

Kametani has said she wants to "share the appeal and culture of sake, awamori, and other Japanese beverages from Okinawa to the rest of Japan and the world."

Okinawa is awamori country. Having the prefecture's Miss SAKE representative champion both sake and awamori is an interesting angle. As Miss SAKE's regional competitions expand across Japan, it will be worth watching what a representative from awamori's home turf brings to the role.

Kametani will spend about three months starting mid-March in Miss SAKE's "Nadeshiko Program," studying Japanese culture and etiquette. The final selection takes place June 13 in Kyoto.