Kenta Goto has been enlisted to celebrate the first anniversary of Canes & Tales at Waldorf Astoria Osaka, with the internationally acclaimed bartender set to host an exclusive one-day masterclass and guest shift on Friday 3 April.

Born and raised in Tokyo, Kenta Goto has built a 20-year bartending career in New York. Following a seven-year tenure at the acclaimed Pegu Club, he opened Bar Goto on Manhattan’s Lower East Side in 2015, followed by Bar Goto Niban in Brooklyn’s Park Slope in 2020. This event marks a rare appearance by Goto in Osaka, highlighting the growing exchange between Japan and the international cocktail community.

The sold-out masterclass, offered to the local bar community, will explore Japanese-style cocktail techniques, flavour balance and Kenta’s approach to translating his cocktail philosophy into consistently high-quality guest experiences.

The guest shift will run from 7pm until sold out, featuring a curated selection of Kenta’s most iconic cocktails sponsored by Suntory. Coinciding with cherry blossom season, the menu subtly highlights the delicate flavours of sakura while blending American classics with Japanese ingredients. Highlights include Bar Goto’s signature Sakura Martini (haku vodka, roku gin, and kanade Japanese cherry blossom), Yuzu Blossom (roku gin, kanade yuzu, Italian bitter, lime and yuzu), Iyemon Old Fashioned (haku vodka, roku gin, kanade matcha, iyemon sencha) and Sakura Ramos Fizz (roku gin, kanade sakura, double cream, egg white, lemon, sakura bitters, sparkling water).

“Marking our first anniversary is a meaningful milestone for Waldorf Astoria Osaka,” says Andrew Moore, General Manager. “As a brand born in New York, it is especially meaningful to celebrate this occasion with Kenta Goto, who has built his remarkable career in New York while bringing Japanese craftsmanship to the global stage. We are sincerely thankful to our guests and the Osaka community for welcoming us so warmly. Experiences like this collaboration at Canes & Tales embody our vision of connecting cultures and creating memorable moments through exceptional hospitality.”

Originally opening its doors on 3 April 2025, Canes & Tales has become a must-visit destination for cocktails in Osaka and a key part of the local bar community. Tucked at the end of a dimly-lit corridor on the 28th floor of the Waldorf Astoria Osaka, the intimate 47-seat bar is hidden behind an alluring dark green door, distinguishable only by a symbolic gold ampersand. Canes & Tales reinterprets the spirit of the 1930s American Jazz Age through a contemporary, cross-cultural lens, merging sophisticated, old-world New York with Osaka’s artistic and historical identity. Designed by internationally renowned designer André Fu, Canes & Tales evokes the spirited sense of escape into a re-imagined world of Osaka’s heritage and charm.

Photography: © Andrew Faulk