BAR TAKEMOTO is first caught by the countless bottles of alcohol that fill the bar counter.
The bottles lined up under the dim light exude an atmosphere of a grown-up bar.
The bartender at BAR TAKEMOTO, located in Mizushima, Kurashiki City, is Takemoto Akio.
About 700 types of alcohol selected by Takemoto are lined up without gaps on the bar counter.
I asked Takemoto how such an overwhelming number of bottles came to be placed at BAR TAKEMOTO.
I will introduce the history of the grown-up bar BAR TAKEMOTO.
Introduction to BAR TAKEMOTO
BAR TAKEMOTO is an authentic bar located in Mizushima, Kurashiki City.
I will introduce what kind of place BAR TAKEMOTO is.
What is BAR TAKEMOTO?
BAR TAKEMOTO is located on the second floor of a building about a 5-minute walk from Mizushima Rinkai Railway Sakae Station.
Climbing the stairs that evoke the passage of time, the wooden door with a round peephole at the landing is the entrance to BAR TAKEMOTO.
Upon opening the door and stepping into the establishment, the rows of bottles catch your eye in the calm atmosphere of the lighting.
BAR TAKEMOTO is characterized by its selection of about 700 types of alcohol, mainly Scotch whisky.
Bartender Takemoto Akio
The bartender at BAR TAKEMOTO is Takemoto Akio.
He was born in Osaka and moved to Mizushima when he was 10 years old due to his father's business.
His interest in the food and beverage industry began when he helped at his mother's coffee shop, and in 1984, Takemoto also started a bar in Mizushima.
In 1988, he moved to the current location and has been serving alcohol at BAR TAKEMOTO ever since.
While working at his mother's coffee shop, he joined the Japan Bartenders Association to acquire bartending skills and knowledge.
In 1997, together with fellow bartenders from across the country, he visited Islay, Scotland, the holy land of whisky, and toured all the distilleries on the island.
Additionally, he was appointed as the Ambassador of Islay by the director of the Bowmore Distillery on Islay, engaging in activities to convey the greatness of Islay whisky to Japan.
He has built close relationships with bartenders from Hokkaido to Kyushu, and served as a director of the Japan Bartenders Association from 2018 to 2020.
Inside BAR TAKEMOTO
When people hear "bar," they may have a high-class impression, but BAR TAKEMOTO is a casual place to visit.
Thanks to bartender Takemoto's generous personality, it has become a comfortable space with a calm atmosphere.
The seating inside consists of 10 counter seats and 2 tables.
You can sit at the counter and chat with Takemoto, or engage in light conversation with regular customers who happen to be there.
It is a bar where you can spend time leisurely while enjoying drinks with the people gathered there.
How did countless bottles come to be placed in the bar BAR TAKEMOTO in Mizushima?
I asked bartender Takemoto Akio about the history of BAR TAKEMOTO.
Data of BAR TAKEMOTO
| Name | BAR TAKEMOTO |
|---|---|
| Address | 1-17 Nishi Sakae-cho, Mizushima, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-445-0037 |
| Parking | None |
| Business Hours | 7 PM to 1 AM the next day |
| Regular Holiday | Sunday |
| Payment Methods |
|
| Reservation | Available |
| Seating | 20 seats (Counter: 10, Tables: 2) |
