7/5/2023 0 Comments Masahiro ikuna katanaTo be honest, one of the first culture shocks, in addition to working in a busy New York City restaurant bar, was on my first day at work. PENTA : What was it like moving to New York from Tokyo? Did you have culture shock? The results were splendid, playful, and decidedly Urushido, such as The Hunt: gin, vermouth, ao-togarashi chili pepper, green yuzu and koji, a Japanese culinary mold. Recently, Penta caught up with him at the elegant Fairmont Pacific Rim in Vancouver, where he had been invited to create a cocktail pairing experience with the hotel’s Botanist restaurant. Since then, Urushido’s reputation has spread far beyond New York. 14 on the World’s 50 Best Bars list that year. After a successful stint at Saxon + Parole as head bartender, he opened Katana Kitten in 2019. Still, it was a tremendous learning experience and in 2008, Urushido decided to set out on his own, relocating to New York full-time to work in the bartending industry. “But what I was doing was lots of copycat things.” “It was a big deal, writing menus,” he says. Yoshihiro sent him to New York City to pick up ideas for cocktail menus. One of Tokyo’s biggest restaurateurs, recruited him to work on some new restaurant openings. “It was about how to cut ice from big chunks, how to stir, how to shake,” he says. In his freetime, Urushido devoured the bartending manuals he found at the library. After graduation, he landed a job at Tableaux, a fancy French restaurant in Shibuya, first as food runner then bar back.Ĭocktail culture had been in Tokyo since the early 1900s, imported during Japan’s Meiji Restoration, when the country underwent a Western-style modernization campaign. At 18, his parents sent him to a private school in Tokyo. In high school, he struggled to focus, got into trouble, and eventually was kicked out. His father worked for Epson, the printing company. Please let us know your preferred language.The 39-year-old was born and raised in Nagano, Japan, a northern prefecture known for its ski resorts. *Please note that the exercise will only be conducted in English or French. Because the forge floor is dirt, we recommend wearing clothes that can get dirty. Sparks can fly through the air and damage your clothing.Ĥ. In the winter it can be cold, we recommend wearing several layers of clothing so that you can adjust for the temperature.ģ. There are no stores or vending machines once you arrive.Ģ. We also offer an activity where you can forge your own blade under the instructions of the blacksmith.ġ. Have the map with you and ask for the "Masahiro Tantôjo" forge. Then, take a taxi to the forge, which takes about 20 minutes (taxi fare: 4,000-5,000 yen). To get there from Kyoto, take the Sagano Line to Kameoka Station (about 30 minutes). You should be over 10 years old to participate in the activity, but if your group includes children under 10 years old, please contact us. Practical informationĪn interpreter will be present to convey the blacksmith's words to you throughout your experience. Enjoy this meeting with this craftsman who is passionate about his art and eager to share, and do not hesitate to ask questions. You will be able to observe "live" the daily life of a sword maker, and learn about the different stages of production. You will then go to the forge, where the craftsman will start working in front of your eyes. You will observe real swords and your host will explain to you how to look at a Japanese sword, which details are important, how to differentiate them, etc. The session will start with an explanation of the Japanese sword, its history, its manufacturing techniques, etc. We suggest you visit a craftsman's forge in Kameoka to discover the secrets of Japanese swordmaking. It is not surprising that in their hands, a sword becomes a miracle of perfection, the perfect balance between cutting capacity and sturdiness. We all know Japanese craftsmen's great skill and dedication to their art. But the Japanese sword fascinates for many reasons: is it its elegant, slender shape? Is it its legendary sturdiness? Its ability to cut through anything? Perhaps the time spent making it? Japan is not the only country where warriors use swords. If you close your eyes and imagine Japan in the past, you will envision samurai in their hakama (wide pleated trousers) carrying a sword on their left side. Just like kimonos or cherry blossoms, the Japanese sword, called "Katana" or "Nihonto", holds an important place in the Japanese imagination.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |