Ozeki's One Cup gets a limited-edition Rose of Versailles label

Ozeki Corporation (Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture; founded 1711), a long-established sake maker, has put a limited-edition label from the popular shojo manga The Rose of Versailles on its flagship cup sake, One Cup Ozeki. The product is called “Josen One Cup 180ml Bottle (The Rose of Versailles)”. It went on sale across Japan on 5 October 2026, in a limited run with a restricted number of bottles. What is inside is the usual One Cup; only the outer design changes. Even so, the tie-up between a cup sake known throughout Japan and a major manga title is worth noting as one example of sake trying to reach new customers.

A blue rose as the mark of a “celebration sake”

According to Ozeki, the campaign rests on two ideas. One is the blue that has long been used on the One Cup label; the other is the flower language of the blue rose, “dreams come true” and “blessing”. Combining the two, the company is presenting One Cup as a sake for celebrations. By teaming up with a work that has female fans across a wide range of ages, the maker hopes to reach people who do not normally pick up cup sake. It also expects demand not only for drinking, but for collecting and for small gifts.

A story of the French Revolution on five labels

The Rose of Versailles is by Riyoko Ikeda and was serialised in the shojo manga magazine Weekly Margaret in 1972 and 1973. Set in revolutionary France, it centres on the fates of Oscar, a cross-dressing officer of the royal guard, and Queen Marie Antoinette, and has sold more than 20 million copies in total. The hit Takarazuka Revue stage production led to a television anime and a live-action film, and its popularity in Japan was such that it was called a social phenomenon. There are five labels in all, depicting Oscar, Andre, Marie Antoinette, Fersen and Rosalie in the brand colour blue with a rose pattern. The design differs between front and back.

The same balance of dry and sweet in the cup

It is classed as futsushu (everyday sake that does not fall under specific designations such as “junmai” or “ginjo”), with an alcohol content of 15%. The sake meter value is ±0 and the acidity 1.4. The sake meter value is a guide to whether a sake is sweet or dry, and ±0 means neither sweet nor dry, a middle point. The ingredients are domestic rice, rice koji made from domestic rice, and brewer’s alcohol. The volume is 180ml, and the suggested retail price in Japan is 292 yen including tax.

This limited bottle is a product for the Japanese market and is not something regularly available in Europe. One Cup Ozeki itself, however, is a brand that can sometimes be seen overseas. Given that the anime version has long been known in Europe as “Lady Oscar”, this label could be an eye-catching bottle for anyone who brings it back from Japan or comes across it through an importer. The flavour is moderate, so it should work well chilled, at room temperature or gently warmed. Pairing it with cheese or salty snacks and sipping it slowly while turning the pages of the manga would suit this sake.