By: Tom White

Hirotomo Akutsu is on a mission to bring Japanese-inspired cocktails to the masses. He was born and raised in Tokyo, cut his teeth in the city’s best bars, and wants to change the world. He calls himself a mixologist who specializes in creating fashionable brews and concoctions. He is an artist who has chosen mixology as an avenue to make his mark on the culture.

He started in fashion. Born and raised in Japan’s capital, he was an athletic child with parents who liked to indulge him in travel. “I became aware of the differences in languages, cityscapes, and the lifestyles of people in various places,” Hirotomo recalls. This fostered a fascination with the outside world and encouraged him to explore all it offered.

Hirotomo never modeled himself after anyone else, but he was drawn to the action-oriented people in society who pursue their dreams without sparing any effort. After high school, he set off for a fashion vocational school in Tokyo, where he completed a stylist program. In the fashion industry, he worked as a coordinator, immersing himself in the expression of lifestyle. He even considered setting up his own fashion business in New York. But his lifelong love of travel raised his awareness of other opportunities for artistic expression. 

Drinks, for example.

“My travels through Australia, London, and New York revealed that cocktails, much like fashion, tell powerful stories — reflecting the rich complexity of life, food, and tradition in every culture I encountered,” recalls Hirotomo. A particularly pivotal moment occurred while back in Japan. He noticed how deep social connections could be forged over simple, well-made drinks.

“This made me reflect on how both fashion and beverages are expressions of mood and occasion,” remembers Hirotomo, “sparking a profound realization about their shared purpose.” 

Into the Trenches

Reborn as a bartender, Hirotomo went to work at Two Rooms Grill and Bar, located on the fifth floor of Tokyo’s posh Aoyama district, an ideal location with sweeping rooftop views of the city. He wasn’t fully satisfied there and jumped at the chance to work at Bar Trench in Ebisu. Located in the southern part of the city, Ebisu is a district famed for its breweries and great bars.

Bar Trench was certainly a next-level challenge for this up-and-coming mixologist. There, he created cocktails that became recognized globally and developed its cocktail menu, taking it to new heights.

Participating in bartending events and cocktail development taught him how to be a team player. For example, he catered events for the fashion brands Chrome Hearts and Nikka and was a guest bartender at an event for the hip-hop legend Nas. For these events, he created his own drinks. 

“These experiences had a significant impact on my goal of creating a business that merges the worlds of fashion and mixology,” says Hirotomo, adding that they deepened his mastery of Japanese bartending techniques by mixing cocktails with traditional spirits like shochu and sake.

Hirotomo also became café bar manager at Bar Trench’s sister establishment, Bar Tram. During this time, Bar Trench won several awards, such as being named among the World’s Best 50 Bars and Asia’s Best 50 Bars, annual lists of the world’s best drinking establishments.

Yet despite these accomplishments, Hirotomo was, as usual, a little restless and thirsty for another, even grander adventure. He decided then that he needed to go to New York.

Welcome to New York

Ah, New York—the Big Apple, as some call it. By population, it’s almost half the size of Tokyo. However, its cultural imprint around the world is unparalleled. Like Hirotomo, it is also a mixed drink of cultures that he would like to add to his Japanese-influenced flavors.

“My goal is to blend the beauty of Japanese art with the allure of high fashion, creating a revolutionary approach to the bar industry,” says Hirotomo. “In New York, I see the perfect opportunity to launch this transformative journey and significantly impact the global stage.” 

Hirotomo’s main philosophy, that cocktails should be more than just drinks and that they can be immersive experiences that celebrate culture and craftsmanship, remains his artistic reference. He’s open-minded, though, and is eager to soak up everything New York offers. While he builds his technical skills, he also has an eye on the essence of things, which he maintains. To get to the core of culture, one needs experiences, according to Hirotomo. One should look to comprehend better local culture, history, traditions, and anything else that can inform one’s art.

Published by: Holy Minoza