Who could resist spending an afternoon in a Japanese bar sampling a new beverage?
Kigo is a genuine Japanese shochu, distilled at the picturesque Kyo-ya distillery in Nichinan by sixth-generation shochu maker, Mr Watanabe. The three-dot graphic was inspired both by Mr WatanabeÕs family crest, and the shorthand used to mark the highest quality blends identified during tasting. However, following our afternoon sampling session we were begining to see six dots.
An open brief allowed us to explore a range of concepts; three of which are shown here. One route included real chopsticks: a reference to the sushi traditionally eaten alongside shochu. Another illustrated the seasonal meaning of ‘kigo’ in Japanese poetry. And the third presented the work of artist Roger Ackling; a wooden sandal inspired by Japanese heritage and culture.