[The Ritz-Carlton Nikko] 5th Anniversary Opening 5 Bartenders Invited from SG Group for 5th Anniversary Bartender Crossover Marriott International Japan Press release: May 16, 2025 To members of the media [The Ritz-Carlton Nikko] 5th Anniversary of Opening Fills the Five Senses with the “5th Anniversary Bartender Crossover” Five world-leading bartenders from the SG Group are invited all at once On Saturday, July 12th, we will be offering a special bar experience for one night only, with new signature cocktails and special content to commemorate our anniversary year.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/11305/2185/11305-2185-c8af3068483098b19ebb47a1b9643945-1294×863.jpg The Ritz-Carlton Nikko The Ritz-Carlton Nikko (Address: 2482 Nakamiya, Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture, General Manager: Alexander Westwood McBride), located in Oku-Nikko, surrounded by magnificent nature and beautiful with its rich seasonal expressions, will celebrate its 5th anniversary on Tuesday, July 15, 2025. To commemorate the 5th anniversary, SG Group, a bar company that operates The SG Club in Shibuya, Tokyo, Speak Low and Sober Company in Shanghai, China, will be hosting a one-night anniversary event, “5th Anniversary Bartenders Crossover,” on Saturday, July 12th, inviting five bartenders from five locations around the world, led by Gokan Shingo, to serve cocktails using ingredients from Tochigi Prefecture under the theme of “the five senses.” The Ritz-Carlton Nikko has previously hosted a collaboration event, “Bartender Crossover,” in which top bartenders from Japan and abroad are invited as guests to enjoy special cocktails and
performances. This year, which marks the anniversary, will focus on the “5” of the 5th anniversary and will be offered as a special project that can only be realized at The Ritz-Carlton Nikko. ◆Comments from General Manager Alexander Westwood McBride
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/11305/2185/11305-2185-6d0d18e7b0ea0dd4bf9d06db836416f9-1296×864.jpg The Ritz-Carlton Nikko General Manager Alexander Westwood McBride Thanks to you, The Ritz-Carlton Nikko will celebrate its 5th anniversary on July 15th this year. As we reach this milestone, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to all the guests who have spent precious time at our hotel, the local community who have always supported us warmly, and the gentlemen and ladies who have provided sincere hospitality in the Nikko area. In Nikko National Park, where rich nature, timeless culture, and spirituality are deeply alive, our hotel has provided many people with irreplaceable experiences and quiet spiritual healing for the past five years. This fifth
anniversary is a time to look back on the past, but it is also the first step toward the future. We will continue to provide authentic experiences deeply connected to the nature and culture of Nikko. And we look forward to welcoming you again with a new story that is about to begin. Filled with all five senses – “5th Anniversary Bartender Crossover”
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/11305/2185/11305-2185-59c0f8be77e522b734267d2c30a181f1-1435×946.png Five bartenders led by Shingo Gokan from SG Group To celebrate the “5th” anniversary, five bartenders led by Shingo Gokan will be invited to the event, which will be held with the theme of the “five” senses experienced in Nikko. This is a bar experience that can only be realized here in Nikko this year, with the milestone number “5” as a play on words. On the day of the event, the new signature cocktail supervised by Gokan will be unveiled to commemorate the 5th
anniversary of The Ritz-Carlton Nikko’s opening, and five bartenders who are attracting attention from around the world will be serving cocktails that can only be tasted here at the bar counter using ingredients from Tochigi Prefecture and spirits from Nikko. The new signature cocktails, inspired by Oku-Nikko, will be available on the grand menu at The Bar on the first floor of The Ritz-Carlton Nikko from Tuesday, July 15, 2025. Mr. Gokan, one of the most popular bartenders in the global bar scene, has overseen all 16 signature cocktails offered at The Bar since The Ritz-Carlton Nikko opened. This time, bartenders from New York, Shanghai, Tokyo, and Okinawa will come together to offer more than nine special cocktails, including non-alcoholic cocktails, from SG Group, which is the most awarded bartender in the world and whose founder is Mr. Gokan. You can attend just the event, but to ensure you have a memorable night, we offer an accommodation package with bar credit. [Date and time] Saturday, July 12, 2025 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. [Location] The Ritz-Carlton Nikko, 1st floor, “The Bar” [Collaboration information] *The bartender profiles are listed below ・Shingo Gokan (New York | Sip & Guzzle) ・Yuya Nagamine (Tokyo | The SG Tavern) ・Satoshi Sugiura (Okinawa | El Lequio) ・Kris Du (Shanghai | Speak Low) ・Roger (Shanghai | The Odd Couple) 【Menu】 ・New signature cocktails overseen by Shingo Gokan to commemorate the 5th anniversary of The Ritz-Carlton Nikko’s opening ・Event-exclusive cocktails ・Event-exclusive non-alcoholic cocktails ※Menu details will be announced on the day 【Inquiries】 0288-25-5776 (The Ritz-Carlton Nikko restaurant reservations direct line) Email：rc.nikko.RestaurantReservation@ritzcarlton.com [Online reservation] https://x.gd/pATwk The Ritz-Carlton Nikko “The Bar” The interior of the store is based on the concept of a “whiskey bar,” and precious Japanese whiskey bottles are lined up like art on shelves decorated with ceramic tiles. The store offers a selection of whiskeys from all over Japan, including masterpieces from all over the country, from Hokkaido in the north to Okinawa in the south. In addition, natural ice from Nikko is used for whiskey on the rocks and several cocktails, allowing you to experience the precious taste that can only be found in Nikko. In a sophisticated and relaxing space with pleasant music, we offer a relaxing time with distilled spirits from Tochigi Prefecture and signature cocktails inspired by Nikko’s rich nature and culture.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/11305/2185/11305-2185-58cdf7b1609a294b42214a0398598e03-1482×988.jpg The Ritz-Carlton Nikko “The Bar” Enjoy the event and your time in Oku-Nikko with “The Bar Time Package” Not only can you come to “Bartender Crossover 5th Anniversary”, but we have also prepared an accommodation plan that allows you to enjoy the charms of Oku-Nikko at a more leisurely pace. Enjoy this event to your heart’s content with an accommodation package that includes a bar credit that can be used at “Bartender Crossover 5th Anniversary”, as well as welcome champagne and breakfast. [Contents] ・Accommodation ・Breakfast during your stay ・Champagne provided (1 bottle per stay) ・Bar credit of 12,000 yen per stay (15,000 yen if staying in a suite room) [Price] From 184,840 yen per person per room / From 192,585 yen per person per room for two people ※Tax, service charge, and hot spring tax are included. ※The above is the minimum price. Prices may vary depending on the room type and the time of your stay. [Inquiries] 0288-25-5152 (The Ritz-Carlton Nikko direct reservations 10:00-17:00) Email:
rc.nikko.room.reservation@ritzcarlton.com [Online reservations] https://x.gd/rFJv1 “5th Anniversary Content” Shuttle bus service connecting Nikko Station and the hotel now available We are launching a shuttle bus that will take you from Nikko, a historic place with hot springs and tourist attractions, to The Ritz-Carlton Nikko, located in Oku-Nikko, which is attractive for its magnificent nature. Please use the bus to travel leisurely while enjoying the famous Irohazaka slope, a famous driving spot. [Start date] July 1, 2025 ~ [Route] Tobu Nikko Station – The Ritz-Carlton Nikko (approx. 50 minutes) [Operation hours] ・Departing from Tobu Nikko Station 10:00~ / 12:00~ / 15:00~ / 17:00~ ・Departing from The Ritz-Carlton Nikko 9:00~ / 11:00~ / 14:00~ / 16:00~ 【Price】 Free *Available for overnight guests [Reservations] Advance reservations are required
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/11305/2185/11305-2185-e79d256d002766261368942ee0f2fa4f-1512×1890.jpg Irohazaka in summer Photo by @matsuge_photo
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/11305/2185/11305-2185-cafd473a48116eac2c59da58535a44f2-1311×875.jpg The Ritz-Carlton Nikko “Omamori” 5th Anniversary Color The “omamori” (charm) given to you at check-out. It is a birch brown color reminiscent of the land of Oku-Nikko. All guests who stay at the hotel are given an original “omamori” (charm) to wish them a safe journey and a safe return home, even after their stay at the hotel. In 2025, the fifth year since the hotel opened, we will be giving out new “Yamakabacha” charms from Wednesday, July 16th onwards, as a symbol of the final experience at The Ritz-Carlton Nikko. “Yamakabacha” is a warm brown colour that evokes the blessings of the mountains and is one of Japan’s traditional colours. The colour is inspired by the “invisible life activities” that support the depths of nature, such as the deciduous forests of Nikko National Park, the trees that take root in the marshes of Senjogahara, the soil that has been cultivated over many years, and the moss-covered rocks. The colour represents the power of nature that continues to live on in the earth even through the changing seasons, and our wish for a deeper connection between guests who visit this place and the nature of Oku-Nikko. We also want to symbolically express our commitment to sustainability through colour – respect for the natural environment, empathy with local culture, and encouragement of local production and consumption.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/11305/2185/11305-2185-2033314cbe56318dc7a19d9915211d0a-668×1001.jpg “The Ritz-Carlton Nikko Baseball Cap”
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/11305/2185/11305-2185-449dbef81029842dc03f7b37b7798fb9-1366×2048.jpg “The Ritz-Carlton Nikko Baseball Cap” Perfect for everyday use “The Ritz-Carlton Nikko Baseball Cap” The Ritz-Carlton Nikko Two new cap colors will be added to the retail products available at Spa & Wellness. Perfect for everyday use, this simple and sophisticated original baseball cap is available in two colors: calm brown and classic black. The adjustable back strap provides a comfortable fit. The cap features The Ritz-Carlton Nikko logo embroidered on it, a symbol of understated yet sophisticated hospitality. Perfect for outdoor adventures or relaxing moments, this item will bring you closer to the spirit of Oku-Nikko.
5th Anniversary Bartender Crossover Collaboration Bartender Profile Gokan Shingo Representative of SG Group. One of the most notable bartenders in the bar industry today. He started his career in 2001. Steadily honing his skills, he became head bartender at the famous New York bar “Angel’s Share”. In 2012, he represented the United States at the world’s largest cocktail competition, “Bacardi Legacy Cocktail Competition”, and won the world championship. In 2014, he opened a bar named “Speak Low” in Shanghai, named after his champion cocktail. Since then, he has opened new concept bars one after another, and currently operates 12 stores both in Japan and overseas.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/11305/2185/11305-2185-9fb2cf9fbede09a2b3e92290b8d65c34-3900×3900.jpg SG Group Representative Shingo Gokan He has won 53 awards at the “50 Best Bars” awards, the most in the world. In 2017, he won the “Bartender of the Year” award at the “Tales of the Cocktail”, known as the Oscars of the bar industry. At the “50 Best Bars” in Asia, he won the “Bartender’s Bartender” award in 2019 and the “Industry Icon” award in 2021. He has been selected for the industry’s influence ranking “Bar World 100” for consecutive years since 2019, and ranked 7th in 2024. 2020 Together with major Sanshu Brewery, they have announced the shochu brand “The SG Shochu” for bars. All three brands won gold and double gold in the San Francisco World Spirits
Competition, and are also focusing on promoting shochu around the world. In 2023, they announced Mizuho Sake Brewery, a long-established Ryukyu Awamori store, and KOKUTO DE LEQUIO, a brown sugar liqueur. He has also demonstrated his skill in product development, including releasing the glass series “SIP AND GUZZLE” in collaboration with Kimura Yutaro of Kimura Glass Store, and has expanded his activities beyond the boundaries of bartenders. In 2024, he was selected as a Forbes JAPAN “30 Culture Planners.” Gokan is also committed to developing many young bartenders, and the protégés who have received their teachings are active in award-winning bars around the world. Nagamine Yuya Beverage Director, SG Group. Born in Kagoshima Prefecture in 1986. After working for the Self-Defense Forces, he began his career as a bartender in Yokosuka in 2010. After gaining experience at bars in Tokyo and winning many prizes in cocktail competitions, he joined SG Group in 2019. He was given the sense of taste from founder Gokan Shingo, and became the head bartender of The SG Club, and also contributed greatly to the award for The
World’s/Asia’s 50 Best Bars. Currently, as the group’s Beverage Director, he is checking quality at nine domestic and international stores, and is also working as a guest bartender overseas to expand his abilities.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/11305/2185/11305-2185-dce24cd5bb0d807b6c398e9aef896763-2041×2041.jpg SG Group Beverage Director Mr. Nagamine Yuya Sugiura Satoshi El Lequio Bar Manager. He joined the bar industry at the age of 20. After studying classic Japanese and flare bartending in Tokyo for nine years, he joined SG Group in 2018. He moved to Shanghai to launch “The Odd Couple” and worked as bar manager at the store for three years. In February 2022, he returned to Japan to launch a new Okinawa store, El Lequio, and has been the bar manager of the store until now. In 2023, El Lequio will lead to Okinawa’s first Asian’s 50 Best Bars ranking. He became the brand ambassador for KOKUTO DE LEQUIO since March 2024, and has also been involved in product development. He has participated in the cocktail competition nine times as a Japan finalist. Others have conducted over 70 guest shifts and master classes.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/11305/2185/11305-2185-7d23a46d14ef08139ff89c8c3489e248-1345×1345.jpg El Lequio Bar Manager Sugiura Satoshi Kris Du Speak Low Bar Manager. He began his career as a bartender at the age of 18. After a four-year career in Guangzhou, he moved to Shanghai in 2015 and joined Speak Low. He spent three years training under Gokan Shingo and Suzuki Atsushi, and in 2018 he became the bar manager for Speak Low. He will become a senior mixed-loser of the younger generation. He has a strong desire to be in the food and beverage industry and values a spirit of hospitality. Speak Low is the longest contribution he has ever made, and his strength has greatly influenced the background to his numerous awards.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/11305/2185/11305-2185-a8414953280cff53814087408edb60-960×960.jpg Speak Low Bar Manager Kris Mr. Du Roger Bar Manager, The Odd Couple. With over 10 years of experience in the F&B industry, he began his career in Guangzhou. He moved to Shanghai in 2015, where he studied at Speak Low, and became manager at a young age. He is currently the bar manager for “The Odd Couple.” He also focuses on international exchange between bartenders and baristas, and hosts a programme introducing world-renowned baristas. He is one of Asia’s leading young leaders who continues to contribute to education, cultural exchange and industry development.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/11305/2185/11305-2185-46f93a25164724ea9115bc2ef0c35dc1-709×740.jpg The Odd Couple Bar Manager Mr. Roger SG Group A bar company that plans and operates bars with new concepts both in Japan and abroad. Under the founder Gokan Shingo, who has won numerous awards around the world, many bartenders with proven track record in competitions are active. In addition to opening bars such as The SG Club in Shibuya, Tokyo, Speak Low and Sober Company in Shanghai, China, we continue to offer bars and dining scenes that are not bound by existing concepts, including restaurants specializing in wine cocktails, izakayas that work as bars, Zero Waste cafes and bars, and cigars and cocktail bars. In addition to “striving the bar culture that is rooted overseas to Japan,” the company continues to transform bar culture with its goal of “striving Japan’s excellent manufacturing overseas.” Official website:https://sg-management.jp/ About The Ritz-Carlton Nikko This is Tochigi Prefecture’s first luxury hotel, set on the scenic shore of Lake Chuzenji and opened in Nikko National Park, where you can see Mt. Nantai, which has been worshiped as a mountain worshipper. In harmony with the untouched nature of Oku-Nikko, total number 94 including 10 suites The spacious guest rooms offer panoramic views of the seasons. We offer Western and Japanese restaurants where you can enjoy unique ingredients from Tochigi Prefecture, a bar offering whiskey from all over the country, a relaxing spa and fitness studio that sharpens your senses, and a hot spring facility that brings out the source of Yumoto Onsen, which has been popular with the local community since ancient times. This is the first attempt at the Ritz-Carlton brand to make this hot springs a reality, providing guests with an experience that focuses on Japanese style. Nikko is a popular destination known as a city with its UNESCO World Heritage Site, Nikko Shrines and Temples, and is known as a city that carries rich nature, traditional culture and eternal history. Kegon Falls, one of Japan’s three most famous waterfalls, is within walking distance of the hotel. We also offer a wealth of activities to discover unknown charms and experience nature, culture and spirituality. Official website:
https://www.ritzcarlton.com/jp/nikko Official
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