16th Osaka Wine Cup 2026 returns to Katashimo Winery in Kashiwara, Osaka, on December 12, 2026. The established rapid tournament is organized by Caissa Osaka Chess Club and combines competitive chess with one of the most distinctive tournament venues in the Kansai region.
Players will compete over six Swiss-system rounds at Katashimo Winery, a historic Osaka winery founded in the early twentieth century. The tournament is officially rated under the Japan Chess Federation national rapid rating system.
Both Japan Chess Federation members and non-members can participate. However, non-members pay an additional participation fee.
♟️ Event Details
| 🏷️ Event name | 16th Osaka Wine Cup 2026 |
| 📅 Date | December 12, 2026 |
| 🇯🇵 City / Country | Kashiwara, Osaka, Japan |
| 📍 Venue | Katashimo Winery – 2-9-14 Taiheiji, Kashiwara, Osaka 582-0017, Japan |
| ♟️ Format | Rapid |
| 🔢 Rounds | 6 |
| 🧩 Tournament system | Swiss system |
| 📊 Rating | Japan Chess Federation National Rapid Rating |
| 👨💼 Tournament Director | Leonard Brinkmann |
| 👨⚖️ Chief Arbiter | Leonard Brinkmann |
| 👥 Organizer | Caissa Osaka Chess Club |
| 🌐 Official website | https://www.caissajp.com/event-details/16th-osaka-wine-cup |
| 🏆 Chess-Results | https://chess-results.com/tnr1484675.aspx?lan=1 |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
The tournament consists of six rapid rounds played according to the Swiss system.
| ⏱️ Time control | 15 minutes + 10 seconds per move |
| 🔢 Rounds | 6 |
| 🧩 System | Swiss system |
| 📊 Rating calculation | National Rapid Elo |
| 💻 Pairing software | Swiss-Manager |
| 🏆 Pairings / Results | https://chess-results.com/tnr1484675.aspx?lan=1 |
The tournament is nationally rated in Japan. It is not listed as a FIDE-rated rapid tournament.
📅 Schedule
The official event period is 09:00–17:30 on Saturday, December 12, 2026.
| ⏰ Time | ♟️ Activity |
|---|---|
| 09:00–09:45 | Registration / check-in |
| 09:45–09:55 | Pairings and Opening Ceremony |
| After 09:55 | Six rapid rounds |
| By 17:30 | Scheduled completion of the event |
Players should arrive during the registration period to complete check-in before the first-round pairings are announced.
The organizer may publish a more detailed round-by-round timetable closer to the tournament.
📝 Registration
Participants should register through the official Caissa Osaka Chess Club tournament page.
Registration:
https://www.caissajp.com/event-details/16th-osaka-wine-cup
The published ticket sale closes on December 10, 2026 at 23:50.
In principle, participants should be annual members of the Japan Chess Federation (JCF). Non-members are also allowed to participate, but an additional ¥2,000 fee is included in their ticket category.
Entry Fees
| 👤 Category | 💴 Entry Fee | 💵 Approx. USD |
|---|---|---|
| Student – JCF member | ¥4,000 | approx. $30 |
| Adult – JCF member | ¥6,000 | approx. $40 |
| Student – non-JCF member | ¥6,000 | approx. $40 |
| Adult – non-JCF member | ¥8,000 | approx. $60 |
A small online ticket service fee is charged in addition to the entry fee.
Players should select the correct ticket according to their student/adult status and JCF membership status.
👥 Organizer
| 👥 Organizer | Caissa Osaka Chess Club |
| 👤 Contact Person | Leonard Brinkmann |
| ✉️ Email | contact@caissajp.com |
| 📞 Phone | +81 70-5432-6915 |
Caissa Osaka Chess Club is an officially registered club of the Japan Chess Federation. Leonard Brinkmann serves as the club’s Osaka Branch Manager and is also listed as Tournament Director and Chief Arbiter for the 16th Osaka Wine Cup.
📍 Venue
Katashimo Winery – 2-9-14 Taiheiji, Kashiwara, Osaka 582-0017, Japan
Katashimo Winery is located in Kashiwara City in eastern Osaka Prefecture. The winery has a history dating back to 1914 and is one of the oldest continuously operating wineries in western Japan.
The venue provides an unusual setting for competitive chess, surrounded by the historic wine-growing area of Kashiwara.
Players should note that the tournament takes place at the winery address at 2-9-14 Taiheiji, rather than at the separate Katashimo Winery direct-sales shop.
🚆 How to Get There
Katashimo Winery can be reached conveniently by public transport from Osaka.
| 🚉 Station | 🚶 Approx. Walking Time |
|---|---|
| Kintetsu Osaka Line – Ando Station | about 10 minutes |
| JR Yamatoji Line – Kashiwara Station | about 15 minutes |
Players travelling from central Osaka can use either the Kintetsu Osaka Line or the JR Yamatoji Line, depending on their starting point.
Because registration begins at 09:00, participants should allow sufficient time to reach the winery and locate the tournament room before check-in closes.
ℹ️ Other Information
The Osaka Wine Cup is one of Caissa Osaka Chess Club’s established tournament series. The previous edition also featured six nationally rated rapid rounds at Katashimo Winery.
The competition is open to players who are not annual members of the Japan Chess Federation. However, those players must purchase the appropriate non-member ticket, which includes the additional ¥2,000 charge.
Players should check the organizer page shortly before the tournament for any updated timetable, entry instructions or other operational announcements.
Official Tournament Page:
https://www.caissajp.com/event-details/16th-osaka-wine-cup
Caissa Osaka Chess Club:
https://www.caissajp.com/
Chess-Results:
https://chess-results.com/tnr1484675.aspx?lan=1
Additional Details
Organizer
♟️ About the Organizer
Caissa Osaka Chess Club is a chess academy and tournament organizer based in Osaka, Japan, operating under Caissa Japan GK. The Japan Chess Federation recognizes it as an official registered chess club, with Leonard Brinkmann listed as its representative. The club promotes chess throughout Osaka and the wider Kansai region through structured instruction, school programs, community activities, and over-the-board competition. Its training program serves children and adults at different playing levels and incorporates the internationally established Step Method. The coaching team includes experienced competitive players and FIDE-qualified instructors, while its educational activities focus on calculation, logical reasoning, planning, concentration, and practical tournament preparation.
🏆 Tournaments and Chess Events
Caissa Osaka Chess Club organizes standard, rapid, blitz, scholastic, team, open, and age-group competitions. Its tournament program includes FIDE-rated events as well as competitions rated by the Japan Chess Federation. Events connected with the club include the Osaka Wine Cup, Kansai Rapid Masters, Kansai Blitz Masters, and scholastic tournaments for international and local schools. In May 2026, the club organized the first MBIS Kobe Open Scholastic Chess Tournament, bringing together students from schools across the Kansai region and beyond. Caissa Osaka is also one of the organizing clubs behind the Japan Chess Classic 2026, together with Osaka Abeno Chess Club, Osaka En Passant Chess Club, and the Japan Chess Federation.
🌱 Chess Education and Regional Development
The club combines regular coaching with practical competitive opportunities, allowing students to progress from introductory lessons to nationally and internationally rated tournaments. It works with schools and families in Osaka, Kobe, and other parts of Kansai, while also developing scholastic events in other Japanese cities. The Osaka operation is managed by Leonard Brinkmann, an experienced chess instructor and tournament organizer who teaches in English, German, and Japanese. Through cooperation with schools, other Japanese chess clubs, professional coaches, arbiters, and the national federation, Caissa Osaka Chess Club helps expand access to organized chess and supports a modern, internationally connected chess community in Japan.
Hotels Near the Venue
Find nearby accommodation for this tournament location.
