Expansion in Kyoto Begins with Cocktails! Sound Houses Expansion in Onagawa and the Future of Our Growing Network

Sound House is now expanding into Kyoto? Has the time finally come? I am writing this article on the rooftop of the Seiryu Hotel in Kyoto. The new location will be the former Shimizu Elementary School that closed down, and NTT and Kyoto Prefecture collaborated together to create one of the finest hotels in Japan, making it famous throughout the country as the ultimate example of using an abandoned school. The hotel's construction, content, and level of service are certainly comparable to those of the Ritz-Carlton, Mandarin, and Peninsula, and it boasts an incomparable level of perfection. The crowning glory of the hotel is the Rooftop, an extravagant bar/restaurant built on the rooftop. The balcony is large and offers a panoramic view of Kyoto. Not only is it a great place to dine, but the indoor bar is arguably Kyoto's No. 1, or rather, Kansai's top-tier cocktail bar, and it’s extremely popular.

The bartender at the K36 bar on its rooftop is Nishida, who is said to be Kansai's number one master mixologist. Every cocktail he makes is a work of art. He has mastered his craft to such an extent that he might even be called a living national treasure. For his next cocktail, he cuts into a Tottori watermelon, squeezes it, and then, when I asked him what he was making, he told me that he was making a midsummer Salty Dog not with vodka, but with a gin called "Ki no Bi" (Kyoto's "seasonal beauty"). Then, it is shaken slowly and gently. I wondered if he was shaking it while drunk, since he had already had some sake before coming to the restaurant, but no, he was perfectly sober!! He said that he shakes the watermelon lightly to bring out the flavor of the watermelon in the cocktail. Since I am completely ignorant when it comes to cocktails, I was gazing at this strange sight when suddenly the cocktail appeared in front of me. The taste is exquisite… It truly was delightful!

Fate is a strange thing. To begin with, this Seiryu hotel is connected to Onagawa. When acquiring the former Onagawa Junior High School, I had to really study how abandoned schools could be used. I wanted to learn how a school could be converted into a hotel. So then one day while visiting my office in Kyoto, I decided to stay at the Seiryu and study the inside of the building to get a feel as to how expensive this would be. What I witnessed there was the workmanship of the finest hotel in Japan. And, what impressed me the most was the rooftop restaurant called "Rooftop" and the K36 bar.

When I mentioned this to Mr. Tsujimoto, the president of a major design firm in Osaka that is helping to build a company housing apartments for employees in Onagawa. He said, "There is a famous bartender at K36 named Nishida and he is my apprentice. So Mr. Tsujimoto joined us at Rooftop to meet Mr. Nishida, and we began our friendship. This was thanks to Sound House's expansion into Onagawa. While doing research, I have met all sorts of people and it has expanded my circle of contacts. I am beyond grateful to have made friends beyond the music world. There is nothing better than having many friends.

Sound House would like to move its headquarters to Kyoto someday. Why? Because Kyoto is the center of Japan, and Tokyo is the capital of the east. Historically, Kyoto was the capital of Japan. During the reign of Emperor Meiji, when the emperor went for a short stroll, he did not return to Kyoto, but instead moved to Tokyo, which is why the Imperial Palace was moved to Tokyo. However, it was a temporary move. Geographically speaking, Kyoto is the center of Japan and is protected from disasters. In ancient times, it was accessible from the Sea of Japan and Osaka Bay because of the waterway connections. The city also has a ground that is resistant to earthquakes. In comparison, Tokyo would be helpless in the event of a major earthquake in the Tokai region, and there are even fears that most of Tokyo could sink beneath the sea, making it vulnerable to natural disasters. Therefore, I believe that it is only a matter of time before His Majesty the Emperor realizes the danger and returns to Kyoto.

So, I am secretly dreaming that the future will be the age of Kyoto. For those who are not interested in politics, economics, or Japan’s future 100 years from now, this may be a trivial topic, but for me, as someone who is concerned about the future of Japan and who is mindful of the mission of Sound House, the key is sustaining our current strength and contributing to society. As they say, “Perseverance is strength”. The key is sustaining our current strength and contributing to society. I am dreaming more and more of making my own contribution to such a cause. My lonely journey continues.