This month São Paulo hosts the 3rd edition of ‘The House of Suntory Experience: Hibiki and Roku Listening Sessions’. The event is a sensory journey that unites the five senses around signature cocktails, haute cuisine, Japanese tradition and music.
The experiences will take place at Kotchi Bar on four different dates and tickets are already on sale. So, if you’re curious about the Japanese culture of the listening bars, check out the details.
Listening Sessions with Hibiki and Roku: when sound transforms taste
The House of Suntory Experience deepens the connection between sound and taste with two distinct experiences. Both are inspired by traditional Japanese listening bars – spaces that combine high-fidelity music listening with sophisticated cocktails.
The Roku Listening Sessions take place on the 7th and 21st and delve into the textures of Japanese electronic music. The Hibiki Listening Sessions, on the 14th and 28th, focus on the Japanese jazz tradition.
However, the concept goes beyond traditional harmonization: the experience was designed based on studies that show how sound frequencies can alter the perception of flavours. High-pitched sounds, for example, accentuate acidity. Low sounds, on the other hand, intensify umami.
In addition, the color palette inspired by Japanese symbolism and the rigorous curation (of drinks, music and hospitality) enhance the sensory proposal.
Finally, each session of the event is an invitation to listen to flavors and taste sounds, translating Japanese rituals with contemporary touches into an immersive, multi-sensory experience.
Cocktails and sound in perfect harmony
The drinks menu is designed by mixologist Alex Mesquita, who has designed recipes to explore the five tastes (sweet, salty, sour, bitter and umami) in harmony with the music. The event features exclusive dishes by chefs Makoto Okuwa and Inés de Los Santos.
The music is curated by Camilo Rocha, a researcher and DJ, who connects the flavors to the tones of jazz and Japanese electronic music.
The philosophy of Japanese hospitality, omotenashi, is in the hands of sommelière Yasmin Yonashiro, who ensures that every detail of the experience is empathetic, sophisticated and genuinely welcoming.