This week’s featured design project spotlights an award-winning packaging concept for the sake brand Awanama Sake.
Let’s take a closer look at the details of this project, which joins our weekly showcase of outstanding packaging design.
Awanama Sake – Japanese Rice Wine – Featured Project
by Ryuta Ishikawa
Project Background
The main goal was to create a bottle packaging for the namasake variety of sake, designed for easy distribution anywhere.
Traditionally, sake is served slightly warmed to bring out its texture and flavor.
That’s why bottle design plays such a crucial role in sake production.
Graphic Concept
The project’s foundation is the Japanese character for “raw,” which stands out like a crest, while the bottle’s patterns enhance its visual impact.
Namasake is a type of sake that is not heat-pasteurized—a key insight that shaped the Awanama Sake packaging design.
The bottle’s black color protects the contents from light exposure, which can negatively affect sake and other alcoholic beverages.
This approach allows the sake to be distributed outside Japan and highlights the white symbols with maximum contrast.
The patterned black exterior is wrapped around an inner plastic bottle, preserving the sake without thermal treatment.
Specifically, the sake is bottled under high pressure with no heat treatment, making it suitable for export or long journeys at sea.
About the Designer
This packaging design was created by the graphic design studio and designer Ryuta Ishikawa.
Awards
The project has received the prestigious A’ Design Award and the German Design Award.
Additionally, the designer was honored with the Pentawards / Platinum 2017/2018.
Our Take
In our view, this is a packaging design project that perfectly balances art and functionality.
While incorporating essential branding elements for marketing, the design also addresses a specific functional need—the core purpose of packaging design.
An outstanding project, without a doubt.
Useful Links
www.competition.adesignaward.com