Letter From Tokyo

‘Sober-curiosity’: Responsible drinking trend grows in Japan

Japanese beverage giant Suntory is running a week-long pop-up store featuring its non-alcoholic drinks in Shimbashi. PHOTO: SUNTORY HOLDINGS
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TOKYO – I am sipping on Mrs Negroni, a complex full-bodied concoction inspired by the classic cocktail, prepared by mixologist Hiroaki Takahashi.

It had notes of orange bitters and hints of coffee and, if I was none the wiser, I would have thought it contained at least a splash of alcohol. But it did not.

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