House of Suntory

The Toki Music Bar Series takes us behind the scenes of the iconic and most unique record bars, listening lounges, jazu kissaten on the scene in Japan and beyond. For the first time, the series leaves Japan to reinforce the influence of Japanese culture worldwide. The challenge was to take that format global without losing its soul. 

We headed to Spiritland in London and Unkompress in Berlin – two listening bars shaped by Japanese influence, but rooted firmly in their own cities.

The films needed to feel local, intimate and human, while still unmistakably Toki. Capturing the feel of the space – the sound, the energy, the small rituals that make each bar what it is. We spotlight a Toki signature cocktail, created with the bar owner, and pair each film with a bespoke playlist curated by the owners for the Suntory Toki Spotify channel.

The bar owners lead the story – their taste, their philosophy, their relationship with music. Music, whisky and conversation come together naturally, creating films that feel lived-in, honest and full of atmosphere.

The Bartending Series takes us on a journey across the world, from Hong Kong to Mexico City, to experience the artistry of the world’s most skilled bartenders and the most eloquent cocktail bars. This series celebrates the  House of Suntory bartender community by showcasing and celebrating their craftsmanship, creativity, and the inspiration they draw from House of Suntory Japanese Spirits. 

We headed to Waltz Bar in Shoreditch, focusing on owner and bartender Gento Torigata.

The films centre on Gento  and his approach behind the bar, his relationship with Japanese whisky, and the small details that define how Waltz feels as a space. We follow the making of two cocktails, one Hibiki-led and one from the wider House of Suntory range, capturing the rhythm and restraint of his process.