Fresh off of my first trip to Japan, I have the bug just like every other Gaijin to drop my life back here in the states and start anew in Nippon. It's been a long term goal of mine to open a bar, specifically one with a focus on agave spirits such as Tequila and Mezcal. I took note of how few and far between the agave offerings were in major cities like Tokyo and Osaka. Although I'm well aware that the focus on distilled spirits in Japan is placed quite largely on Whisky and Gin, these cities seem too large (and westernized in certain respects) not to have at least some slice of the drinking population interested in agave. Is there simply a lack of interest in the category? Are there too few producers exporting their agave products to a Japanese market? Is the cost of exporting liquor exorbitantly high and therefore not worth it for most brands not named Jose Cuervo? I would love for someone to pour cold water on my head and talk me out of a very brash financial endeavor. Thanks in advance!
by Frail_Earnhardt