Japan Trip - Bar Radio

I love cocktails.
There are numerous bars in the world which serve cocktails. Many of them are fun and busy.
However, I like to have carefully crafted cocktail in calm, quiet atmosphere.

Bar Radio is in Aoyama, Tokyo. About 5 min. walk from Omotesando station.

Inside is dark and quiet.
People come here to appreciate the craftsmanship of the bartenders, not to get drunk.

My first cocktail was Blood and Sand. Classic cocktail.

We'd been drinking cocktails with fruit juice in Japan and experienced hit and miss (this Blood and Sand was a big hit!).
JC learned the difficulties of making well-balanced fruits-based cocktail from the recent Tiki cocktail craze, so we asked the bartender if there were any tips to reach the perfect balance.
It was a cold night and we were the only customers there at that time, so he explained in detail why it was difficult, why the use of lemon and lime was critical, and, after all, only the experience would teach you.
This advise encouraged JC (or gave him an excuse to restart the Tiki craze).

Then we started to talk about antique glasses.
The owner Mr. Ozaki has an impressive collection of antique glasses and he uses them at the bar.
They choose a glass which suits for the cocktail and for the guest.

One sharp, stylish flute glass got my attention and I asked the bartender to make something for the glass.

I forgot to ask the name of this cocktail but it was a great cocktail. Sharp and delicate, just like its vessel.
It was like that he knew exactly what I wanted when I saw the glass.

All the bartenders were humble: they like to talk to you but never become overly friendly.

Many stores, not just bars, when I feel welcomed, it's because people there are very friendly and try to communicate.
However, at Bar Radio, they are more quiet than talkative, more polite than friendly, yet I still felt very welcomed.
Wondered why.

Then I found out that they adapt the concept of tea ceremony to entertain the guests.
Their service is calculated to play the background role, and they believe that there ought to be some kind of tension involved in the space.
I like that.