In April 1865, 19 young samurai from the Satsuma Domain—now Kagoshima Prefecture—embarked on a covert mission to London. At a time when Japan was isolated under the Sakoku policy, overseas travel was forbidden. Yet, these samurai, now known as the Satsuma Students, defied the ban with a singular goal: to absorb the Western knowledge reshaping the world. They would return, carrying with them the tools to spark Japan’s modernization, laying the foundation for a transformative revolution.

I couldn’t help but think of these samurai as I sat with Shingo Gokan at his newly opened SG Tavern. Like the Satsuma Students, Gokan is a bridge between worlds, combining a quiet determination with a passion for exploration and innovation. His journey, too, has involved defying convention and venturing into the unknown in pursuit of something greater.

Gokan’s career began at 18, a formative age to jump behind the bar. Soon after, he set his sights beyond Japan’s borders, traveling to Spain and then New York in 2006 to refine his craft. His breakthrough came in 2012 when he won the Bacardi Legacy Cocktail Competition, cementing his reputation on the global stage and leading to extensive travels across Europe and Asia, deepening his understanding of bartending cultures worldwide.

In 2014, after more than a decade of honing his skills, Gokan opened his first venture in Shanghai—Speak Low, inspired by Prohibition-era speakeasies. The bar was an immediate success, celebrated not just for its concept but for its immersive experience. By 2017, with multiple brands operating in Shanghai and accolades such as International Bartender of the Year at the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation’s Spirited Awards, Gokan had become a cultural force in the industry—a true Culturalpreneur, blending the artistry of mixology with a deep respect for tradition and an unflinching desire to innovate. Ready for his next challenge, he returned to Japan, where his international experiences positioned him not only as a respected professional but also as one of the industry’s leading figures.

While researching his SG Shochu brand in Kagoshima, Gokan became captivated by the Satsuma Students’ story. Inspired, he wondered: what if he could create a space where time-honored traditions and innovative ideas could coexist? This question led to the creation of SG Tavern—a place where culture, history, and creativity converge.

“For Japanese people, the highball means whisky and soda. But for Westerners, it’s more of a style,” Gokan explains. “I wanted to introduce a new take on the highball to Japanese consumers, while also bringing our Japanese spirits to the global market.” To do this, Gokan crafted SG Tavern’s Highball Journey, a menu that follows the Satsuma’s voyage. Take, for example, the Satsuma, a fresh take on the highball that combines Gokan’s own SG Shochu IMO (sweet potato shochu) with sencha green tea directly from Kagoshima.

The drink menu extends beyond the Highball Journey, showcasing a range of signature cocktails. A standout is the Pole Star Martini, a tribute to Seibei Nakagawa, a pivotal figure in the Satsuma Students' mission. This cocktail blends the smoothness of Grey Goose vodka with the tartness of seabuckthorn, accented by passionfruit and finished with a delicate splash of unfiltered beer. Another highlight is Gokan’s menu favorite, the Matcha Sazerac. “Matcha, kinako (soybean flour), and mugwort are common in Japanese sweets, but they’re rare in cocktails,” he explains. For Gokan, these drinks are a tribute to the samurai’s enduring influence on Gokan’s approach to bartending and offer a taste of the world the students themselves sought to understand.

The experience at SG Tavern extends beyond the drinks. In collaboration with Michelin-starred chef Yoshihiro Narisawa, Gokan has curated a menu that merges Japanese culinary traditions with global influences. Narisawa, known for his creative reinterpretations of Japanese ingredients, designed dishes that complement Gokan’s cocktails while adding their own chapter to the Satsuma Students’ story.

For Gokan, SG Tavern is more than just a place to eat and drink—it is a living story that invites guests to reflect on how cultural boundaries are remade, much like the Satsuma Students did when they set out to transform Japan’s future. As SG Tavern continues to evolve, it showcases the possibilities that emerge when history and creativity come together. “We have a lot of space for ‘What ifs.’ Our tavern is based on history, but there’s room for creativity in the gaps of the story,” Gokan says. “We research history, but we also create within it.” The tavern’s story is far from complete, and with each new chapter, the possibilities for deeper cultural connections and Gokan’s creative innovation continue to unfold.

Editorial profile was written and photographed for Travel + Leisure Asia (2025).

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