DOJO Academy and Senpai periods start in June and run all through the Summer time
Home of Suntory has introduced that its DOJO schooling programme will return this Summer time. Now in its third yr, the DOJO initiative goals to immerse bartenders in Japanese spirits and bartending tradition, with a concentrate on Suntory’s Roku gin, Haku vodka and Toki and Hibiki whiskies. Whereas craft and spirits-knowledge can be center-stage, the DOJO programme may also deepen bartenders’ understanding of the philosophies which underpin Japanese bartending.
Two components – DOJO Academy and DOJO Senpai – mix to type the total programme this yr. The DOJO Academy will present 50 bartenders with insights from Japanese Craft Masters, which might then be virtually utilized to any hospitality profession. The Masters of Craft will host 4 modules over two “Monozukuri Masterclasses” in July and September, led by James Bowker, Home of Suntory’s Model Ambassador, which is able to immerse bartenders the craftsmanship, methods and tradition of bartending in Japan.
James and the Masters may also provide 25 bartenders a singular alternative to participate within the DOJO Senpai program. This separate, elevated program gives bartenders with progress and improvement alternatives throughout a six-month interval starting in Could 2022, and can embody a collection of ‘Monozukuri Masterclasses’ which is able to run by June till September.
Every masterclass will happen at Japan Home in London and the bespoke Japanese impressed periods can be centred across the three pillars of Home of Suntory: WA (being in concord with Japanese nature), Monozukuri (conventional Japanese ideas of workmanship) and Omotenashi (genuine Japanese hospitality). The “Monozukuri Masterclasses” will concentrate on:
- Sushi and Seasoning – A masterclass on steadiness and seasoning, together with a Haku tasting
- Ikebana and Aesthetics – A masterclass spotlighting the artwork of Ikebana flower arranging and how one can adapt it to cocktail garnishing, targeted on Japanese aesthetics and wonder. The session additionally features a Roku tasting
- Kaiseki and Psychology – A masterclass instructing the talents and methods behind conventional multi-course Japanese eating. The session may also embody a tasting of the mixing parts of Toki
- Chadō and Hospitality – A masterclass in Japanese hospitality, explored through the normal Tea Ceremony, together with an in-depth tasting of Hibiki
Impressed by Kaizen, or continuous enchancment, members will apply this idea through Kaizen Challenges over the period of the summer time. This can contain members showcasing their newfound expertise and making use of them to a traditional cocktail, chosen previous to the primary masterclass.
As a part of this problem, those that reveal the artwork of refinement and steady enchancment in the course of the masterclasses can be invited to the DOJO Finale, happening in November. The finale will deliver collectively finalists from the DOJO Academy and DOJO Senpai programmes to participate in a single final competitors, hosted by James Bowker and famed Bar Grasp Hidetsugu Ueno of Bar Excessive 5 in Tokyo. On the finish of the Masterclass, the group will current their Kaizen Traditional to Hidetsugu Ueno, James Bowker and friends, with two fortunate bartenders successful a once-in-a-lifetime journey to Japan.
All year long there may also be a number of Japanese impressed DOJO mini occasions held in numerous London areas, together with Japanese tea tasting and a Kanpai sake brewery tour.
Commenting on the return of DOJO for the third yr operating, James Bowker, Model Ambassador for the Home of Suntory, mentioned: “We’re extraordinarily delighted to deliver again DOJO for a 3rd yr, and this time, we’re again in particular person after two years of digital periods. Japanese food and drinks stay the UK’s quickest rising sector in hospitality (CGA Report 2021) and following a difficult interval in our trade, the programme goals to inspire bartenders by incomparable experiences and genuine Japanese bar coaching. These participating will develop new methods to deliver creativity to the artwork of Japanese bartending and acquire distinctive insights into creating higher visitor experiences. I’m actually trying ahead to welcoming the long run DOJO ambassadors to our close-knit, but rising neighborhood.”
For extra data, go to the Home of Suntory DOJO web site.
