Kaizen Challenge
Tales of the Cocktail Foundation’s Kaizen Challenge
Presented by The House of Suntory Dojo
The Challenge | Timeline | The Dojo Forum | How to Enter | Enter Now
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Welcome to Tales of the Cocktail Foundation’s Kaizen Challenge sponsored by The House of Suntory Dojo
Rooted in Japanese traditions of craftsmanship and continuous improvement, the Kaizen Challenge encourages bartenders to look beyond the bar to elevate what happens behind it. Following masterclasses, artisan-led learning, and guided discussions, participants will apply these lessons to refining a classic cocktail.
Only one will receive the title “Senpai – Best In Class Student” and a week-long development experience in Japan at The House of Suntory Dojo Forum – could it be you?
The Challenge
What is the Kaizen Challenge?
The Kaizen Challenge is a self-development challenge rooted in Japanese traditions of craftsmanship, designed to help share authentic Japanese bartending around the world. Participants will learn through two Masterclasses and multiple challenges, using skills learned from Japanese masters to refine and elevate a classic cocktail.
Each Masterclass Day will include an educational session led by experts from the Japanese Culture Center– Japanese HiFi + The Art of Blending, Ikebana + The Art of Aesthetics, or Chado + The Art of Omotenashi–, a tasting, one in-person Kaizen challenge, and one online Kaizen challenge.
The day will include a discussion on how the craft can be applied to bartending, led by Julia Momose, Bartender & Author, and Davey Jones, House of Suntory.
Participants will walk away from this professional growth program with education, community, mentorship, and an appreciation for how Japanese culture and craftsmanship relate to bartending.
Challenge Timeline
Challenge Timeline
May 16, 2026 – Entries Open
June 5, 2026 – Entries Close
The judges will evaluate the submissions and select 20 participants.
June 22, 2026 – Welcome Lunch
We will provide an overview of the program and select a classic cocktail to be refined throughout the challenge.
June 27, 2026 – Masterclass 1
August 24, 2026 – Masterclass 2
August – September, 2026 – Top 12 Participants Confirmed
The Top 12 participants from the preceding challenges are selected to join the Kaizen Challenge Finale, or the Senpai Challenge.
September 7, 2026 – Kaizen/Senpai Challenge Finale
Participants will present their refined cocktail, take a House of Suntory knowledge exam, complete a final Kaizen challenge, and participate in a blind-tasting of House of Suntory products.
November 2026 – The Senpai travels to Japan for the Dojo Forum.
The Dojo Forum
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The Senpai – best in class student – will join other top Kaizen Challenge participants from around the world at the Dojo Forum in Japan in early November. There, they will take part in additional masterclasses from mentors and cultural activities. The trip will be a deep dive into Japanese culture and craftsmanship through the lens of hospitality. Global mentors will join the Dojo Forum for a week of discussion and development, exploring Suntory’s distilleries, traditional Japanese crafts, as well as Japanese bartending. Each Senpai will also have the opportunity to present a topic of their choosing, as we all learn from one another and help our industry move into the future collaboratively and cross-culturally.
How to Enter
How to Enter
*Must be 21+ and Chicago-based.
Submit a short video explaining why you would like to join the Dojo education program and discover Japanese culture through cocktails.
