Inside Tokyo’s most mysterious sake bar, Twelv – debuting in Hong Kong at Carlyle & Co
Twelv is set for a one-night-only pop-up at Hong Kong’s Carlyle & Co. Here’s what makes its multitalented, Porsche-loving owner Norihiro Tacamizuma tick
“The technique to drive fast and make good sake is the same,” he explains. “It’s about connecting the details and focusing on technique. Whether it’s racing fast or pursuing a delicious, premium sake, the achievement comes through a total use of mindset.”
Tacamizuma’s mindset is certainly a breed apart. For a decade beginning in 2005, the Fukuoka native worked in fashion, even launching a clothing label and showcasing his designs in Paris. It was during this period, while observing Japan from abroad, that he felt a growing desire to reconnect with his heritage.
“When I saw Japan from overseas, and thought about what was wonderful about the country, I was surprised by how much the quality of sake in Japan had improved,” he recalls. “The sake I grew up with was not good – that was the period when champagne, wine, shochu and all the other liquors entered Japan, and this affected the sake industry.”
