I am fascinated by Japan, and it is definitely on my Top 5 list of countries that I MUST visit before I die. About a year ago, I watched an episode of No Reservations (hosted by Anthony Bourdain) which featured a Tokyo bar called Bar Ishinohana. While surfing the web tonight, I stumbled upon a rather unique collaboration between Seiko (the watch company) and Bar Ishinohana’s leading bartender, Mr. Ishigaki Shinobu. Seiko and Mr. Shinobu have created three unique wristwatches which they call Seiko Cocktail Time (the three flavors are Cool, Dry, and Sweet). Although this may seem to be a rather unusual collaboration, once you see Mr. Shinobu performing his craft, it will begin to make sense.
Japan definitely is a place worth visiting especially if you’re in the company of an excellent local host. I have been fortunate to have had this pleasure several times. I do not have the skill to properly describe some of the dining experiences. And drinking is almost an institution, so much so that I learned to be careful when they ask whether I’d like to go out for a “shot”. Some day I’ll tell you about the faux playboy club, complete with bunnies. And this was in 2005.
Of course, the bartender in the video ruined it for me when he admitted being inspired by Tom Cruise in Cocktail, one of the worst movies ever with one of my most hated songs, Kokomo by the Beach Boys.
Wow! Now I’m super jealous! Japan is so not America, that the local host thing would be a necessity for my uncultured self. I think that applies to alot of Asian countries, i.e. India, China, Thailand, etc.. I hope to get there one day.
Though the guy mentioned Cocktail as his inspiration, it’s clear that he is the Anti-Cocktail bartender: precise, artistic, confident, but not cocky. I have never seen the movie from start to finish. Looks horrible. Except of course for Elizabeth Shue. Perhaps she was his inspiration and not Tom Cruise. Make a kick-ass drink, score a pretty girl.