Hidetsugu Ueno
Ginza bartender behind Bar High Five, global ambassador of the Japanese hard shake and hand-cut diamond ice.
Veronica's Take
In the heart of Ginza, Hidetsugu Ueno, the legendary bartender behind Bar High Five, has elevated cocktail-making to an art form that draws pilgrims from around the globe. Born in 1971, Ueno is the global ambassador of the Japanese hard shake and the meticulous craft of hand-cutting diamond ice, a technique that transforms a simple sphere of ice into a flawless, clear gem. In his world, the ice is not just a component of the drink but an integral part of the cocktail itself, as essential as the gin. His devotion to this level of precision has made him a shokunin of the highest order, turning every visit to his bar into a masterclass in the art of mixology.
He carves a sphere of ice with a knife until it's a flawless clear diamond, because in his bar the ice is as much the cocktail as the gin.
Key Facts
The people behind Hidetsugu Ueno
Hidetsugu Ueno
profileBartending
Ginza bartender behind Bar High Five, global ambassador of the Japanese hard shake and hand-cut diamond ice.
Browse by discipline
More masters worth your time
Jiro Ono
Founder of the three-Michelin-star Sukiyabashi Jiro in Ginza, subject of the documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi.
Hidekazu Tojo
Vancouver chef credited with inventing the inside-out 'BC roll' and the format that seeded the California roll for Western diners.
Chad Robertson
Co-founder of Tartine Bakery in San Francisco whose country loaf and book Tartine Bread reset the global naturally-leavened standard.
Apollonia Poilane
Third-generation head of Poilane bakery in Paris, guardian of the wood-fired two-kilo sourdough miche shipped worldwide.
Want discoveries like this in your inbox every morning?
One master of craft. Every morning. Chosen by someone with actual standards and zero patience for the mediocre. Free forever, unsubscribe whenever.