Ambassador interview Chapter 1: [Bartender Edition]

Interview with BAR TIMES STORE Ambassador Kazuaki Nagao ①

Interview conducted to commemorate the appointment of Kazuaki Nagao (Bar LIBRE/Ikebukuro) as a BAR TIMES STORE Ambassador, starting from April 2023. In this project, we will not only discuss his role as an ambassador but also introduce the story of his journey as a bartender, including the reasons behind choosing this profession and its allure. With so much to cover, we will divide the interview into three parts: the "Bartender Section," the "Vietnam Section," and the "Ambassador Section." In this first edition, we will share the "Bartender Section," which delves into how Nagao became a bartender, the challenges he faced, and his encounter with Yujiro Kiyosaki, the current owner of Bar LIBRE.

With 20,000 yen tightly grasped in his hand, he embarked on his first experience at a bar in Ginza. From a chance encounter, his journey as a bartender began in his hometown of Kagawa.

BAR TIMES: Nice to meet you today, Nagao-san. As this is your first appointment as a BAR TIMES STORE Ambassador, we are eagerly looking forward to the activities you will be involved in the future.

NAGAO: Thank you very much. I'm also looking forward to it.

BAR TIMES: First, we would like to know more about you, Nagao-san. What prompted you to pursue the path of becoming a bartender?

NAGAO: Before becoming a bartender, I was working part-time at both an izakaya and a café, while vaguely dreaming of owning my own shop in the future. I was undecided about whether to pursue the path of an izakaya or a café... It was during that time that I came across a video featuring Taiwanese bartender Angus Zou. His incredible coolness had a tremendous impact on me. That became the catalyst for me to realize that what I truly wanted to do was not to run an izakaya or a café but to become a bartender who excels overseas. This dream started when I was 23 years old.

BAR TIMES: So, you discovered the existence of the bartender profession.

NAGAO: Yes, I had no idea about it since I had never been to a bar before. But once I learned about the profession of a bartender, I completely fell in love with it. The following week, I headed from my hometown of Kagawa to Tokyo, specifically to Ginza and Akasaka, to drink cocktails. I held onto my 20,000 yen tightly.

BAR TIMES: You went all the way to Ginza?

NAGAO: I had this image that Ginza was the place for bars. So, I did some research beforehand and visited four different bars. Seeing the bartenders in action confirmed my belief that they were indeed cool. After that, I returned to Kagawa and told the manager of the izakaya, "I'm going to become a bartender! I'm going to Tokyo!" (laughs)

BAR TIMES: Were you planning to work in a bar in Tokyo?

NAGAO: Yes. But then, a regular customer who was close to the izakaya manager offered me a job at his bar in Kagawa. When I heard the details, it turned out that the person I saw at the bar in Akasaka was from Kagawa and he was going to be the manager of the new bar. It was a remarkable coincidence, and I felt like it was fate, so I decided to join them. The bar was called "Bar HEEL," a membership-based bar with only six seats. It had a really cool interior. It still exists to this day. That's where my journey as a bartender began.

BAR TIMES: How long did you stay at "Bar HEEL"?

NAGAO: About four years. There was a second location called "Bar TIE" on the first floor of the building, and I also worked behind the counter there. On Fridays, I trained at a different bar, and on Sundays, I shook pans at the café where I originally worked (laughs). So, I had absolutely no days off. There was so much to learn every day, and I was truly grateful for the opportunity to study and improve.

Mr. Nagao, who started walking the path of a bartender that he never imagined before, all thanks to a single video.

Challenging competitions made it possible to realize the dream of expanding overseas. An impressive meeting with Yujiro Kiyosaki, owner of Bar LIBRE.

BAR TIMES: Nagao-san, you have participated in various competitions, haven't you?

NAGAO: When I was at "Bar HEEL," I took part in competitions organized by associations, groups, and manufacturers. Around that time, I started hearing some talk about working overseas as well. Places like Singapore, Hawaii, and Shanghai were mentioned. I even went to visit some of these locations. However, I couldn't quite make up my mind.

BAR TIMES: That's amazing, to receive such offers.

NAGAO: One day, a bartender who has always been kind to me suggested that I meet his junior colleague who was opening a bar in Vietnam. So, I went to Tokyo to hear more details. I had encountered similar opportunities before, but the people I met were mostly those typical bartenders, with slicked-back hair and white jackets (laughs). But on the day of the meeting, as I was waiting at a hotel café, I saw someone in a navy pinstripe suit with dyed hair, striding towards me with a confident air. I thought, "Oh, here comes an interesting person" (laughs). And that person turned out to be the current owner, Kiyosaki.

BAR TIMES: He had quite a strong personality, didn't he?BAR TIMES: Nagao-san, you have participated in various competitions, haven't you?

Nagao: When I was at "Bar HEEL," I took part in competitions organized by associations, groups, and manufacturers. Around that time, I started hearing some talk about working overseas as well. Places like Singapore, Hawaii, and Shanghai were mentioned. I even went to visit some of these locations. However, I couldn't quite make up my mind.

BAR TIMES: That's amazing, to receive such offers.

Nagao: One day, a bartender who has always been kind to me suggested that I meet his junior colleague who was opening a bar in Vietnam. So, I went to Tokyo to hear more details. I had encountered similar opportunities before, but the people I met were mostly those typical bartenders, with slicked-back hair and white jackets (laughs). But on the day of the meeting, as I was waiting at a hotel café, I saw someone in a navy pinstripe suit with dyed hair, striding towards me with a confident air. I thought, "Oh, here comes an interesting person" (laughs). And that person turned out to be the current owner, Kiyosaki.

BAR TIMES: He had quite a strong personality, didn't he? haha

NAGAO: In that instant, I thought, "I want to work with this person." But it was Vietnam we were talking about. At that time, there were no Japanese bartenders opening their own bars. While I could imagine things working out in places like Singapore or Hawaii, I had doubts about Vietnam. And it was in the resort city of Da Nang, to top it off. But then Kiyosaki said, "I want to do something in a place where no one else is doing it." I found him intriguing (laughs). If I could take on a challenge in a place where no one else was doing it, I thought it would be enjoyable for me too.

BAR TIMES: So, you joined "Bar LIBRE."

NAGAO: Yes. Within a month of joining, I flew to Da Nang, Vietnam, to launch "Bar LIBRE Da Nang Rooftop Bar." It was a truly valuable experience that changed my life in a big way.

Mr. Nagao (on the right) and Mr. Seizaki, the owner of Bar LIBRE (second from the left). Nagao respectfully calls Seizaki "Kiyo-san" and one can feel the depth of respect and trust between them.

To be continued in Part 2: Vietnam Edition.

Profile of Kazuaki Nagao