One of the most well-known bars in Susukino that will brighten up your nights is the long-established ​BAR YAMAZAKI, which many of you may have visited before. Founded by Tatsuro Yamazaki, who has made a significant contribution to the development of the bar industry for many years, it has been loved for over half a century.

Bar Calico, an authentic bar with a night view located about a 5-minute walk from this famous restaurant, was opened in 2022 by Aiso Yusuke, who had 23 years of experience at Yamazaki and 18 years as the chief bartender.

We asked Aiso, who enjoys interacting with customers every day in a high-quality space lit by soft lighting, about what inspired him to become a bartender and the appeal of the bar he opened after learning at Yamazaki.

From a vague aspiration to a career

Aiso decided to become a bartender after watching the movie "Cocktail" as a child. He first came into contact with movies when he was in the upper grades of elementary school.

"The image of him as being cool remained in my head for a long time, so when I was in high school and mentioned to a friend of my mother that I was interested in cocktails, she told me about a famous bartender in Sapporo. That was Master Yamazaki," he recalls.

"I want to work under a famous master," he thought, and the vague dream he had as a child gradually became more clearly defined. With the goal of working at "Yamazaki" in the future, he went on to study at a vocational school where Mr. Yamazaki was a lecturer.

A combination of good fortune, timing, and Aiso's passion bore fruit, and working as a bartender at Yamazaki became his livelihood.

"How to live" learned from my life mentor

What Soso learned from working behind the bar with Yamazaki was to be humble. No matter how famous he became or how well-recognized he became, Yamazaki would always tell his customers, "My staff are much better at making cocktails than I am."

"Master showed me what it means to interact with people and how to live as a human being. I consider the experience of being able to spend the final moments of such a fine person's life to be a true treasure."

"That's why I value the feeling of 'staying humble no matter what,' and I try to be respectful towards all customers," says Aiso, savouring his words. The way Yamazaki, who is also his "mentor in life," lives his life is still deeply engraved in Aiso's heart.

A menu to thoroughly enjoy "Bar Calico"

Calico arrangement by Hiroshige (left)
"Yoichi-cho Karasumi "Kita Kohaku"" (right) prepared by Taketsuru

One of the cocktails that can be enjoyed at Bar Calico is the Calico Arrange Hiroshige, an adaptation of Yamazaki's original sake cocktail.

By combining sake from Kamikawa Taisetsu Sake Brewery, which has a close relationship with Aiso, with pomegranate syrup, chopped umeboshi paste, violet liqueur, etc., the drink is said to express the beauty of the sunset sky over the Plum Orchard of Kamata, a painting by the Edo period ukiyo-e artist Utagawa Hiroshige.

The sake is accompanied by "Yoichi-cho Karasumi Kitakohaku" prepared by Nikka Whisky's "Taketsuru". By layering it with thinly sliced daikon radish, you can feel the richness and umami of the karasumi even more.

In addition to cocktails and snacks, the "sake lees crème brûlée," created by Aiso as a "sweet that makes use of the efforts of Kamikawa Taisetsu Sake Brewery," has become an indispensable item on the shop's menu.

The crepe crepe, made with sake lees, a product of the sake-making process, is a perfect sweet treat to be enjoyed as is, or with the accompanying rock salt. The rich aroma of fresh sake lees, which are usually difficult to obtain, combines to create a flavorful treat.

A special moment spent with the view unfolding below

From the booth seats at Bar Calico, located on the 13th floor of the building, you can look out over the Susukino streetscape spreading out below.

"The view from here is different every day. The place where the sun sets also changes little by little, and you can feel the change of seasons. This view is refreshing for me personally, and I hope that visitors can enjoy it too."

The gradation of the sky as the sun begins to set and the glittering lights and neon signs as the night deepens. The cityscape changes its appearance depending on the time of day, making the nights of your trip even more special and enriching.

Aiming to create a space where customers can drop in casually

"Bar Calico" is filled with ideas to make you feel relaxed and at ease, such as potted plants and the view from the windows. The name of the bar, "Calico," which means "calico cat," is one of those ideas.

"We want to create an atmosphere where people can drop in as casually as possible, and provide a space where they can enjoy themselves through interactions with customers through cocktails. We would like this bar to be an opportunity for people to want to visit other bars, including Yamazaki," said Aiso, speaking wholeheartedly until the very end.

"Spending the night in a cozy bar during your trip." These stories made us look forward to spending such time in the future.

Bar Calico（バー キャリコ）
電話番号：050-1339-0399
住所：北海道札幌市中央区南4条西5丁目8−1 F-45ビル 13F
アクセス：地下鉄「すすきの駅」より徒歩2分程度
HP：https://www.bar-calico-sapporo.com/
SNS：https://www.instagram.com/bar_calico_sapporo/
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