DIAGEO WORLD CLASS 2026 JAPAN TOP50
Koki has built a strong track record (*) in global cocktail competitions, including being selected as one of Japan’s Top 50 bartenders in DIAGEO WORLD CLASS.
About Koki Ito
Owner-bartender profile
Koki is the owner and bartender of Cocktail Bar Raven (Tokyo), as well as the founder of SHIRAHAMA DISTILLERY (Shizuoka), a Japanese craft liqueur distillery.
While his work is centered around the bar, he is also involved in a wide range of alcohol-related projects as the CEO of Fame's Inc. These include producing Japanese craft liqueurs, providing restaurant and bar opening consulting such as original cocktail development and technical training, and planning travel tours themed around alcoholic beverages and the regions where they are made.
Career Highlights
Bolivia Singani Tour
In partnership with HIS Bolivia, Koki planned and completed a travel project visiting Bolivian singani distilleries and the Salar de Uyuni salt flats.
IDORU, Mumbai
For IDORU in Mumbai, India, Koki supported the opening as a consultant, working on menu development and technical training. IDORU has already opened.
* Includes recognition in competitions such as Hennessy MyWay 2026 (Japan Top 10) and Giffard West Cup 2026 (Japan Top 10).
The philosophy: A Bar Built Around Conversation
Cocktail Bar Raven is located in the small neighborhood of Koiwa in Edogawa City, Tokyo. It was opened by Koki when he was just 23 years old in 2020.
Raven was intentionally designed as a compact bar. With only five seats at the counter, the distance between guests and the bartender is naturally close. It offers a quiet, personal atmosphere where guests can enjoy an experience centered around conversation.
Although a digital menu is available, the best way to enjoy Raven is to share your preferences, favorite aromas, the feeling of the season, or even personal memories with the bartender. Having studied in Australia, Koki is able to communicate in English, and he hopes to serve each guest the most suitable drink through one-on-one conversation.
Recognition in Japan
Some achievements are easier to understand in Japan than overseas, but they help explain the trust Koki has built in the local industry.
- The "SHIRAHAMA Distillery" project, which he founded, was highly recognized for transforming bitter oranges that would otherwise have been discarded into a high-quality liqueur. In 2025, the project received the Excellence Award at the SDGs Business Award 2025, hosted by Shizuoka Prefecture.
- Cocktail Bar Raven, Koki, and related projects have been featured across a wide range of Japanese media, including television, newspapers, magazines, and online publications.
- As an alumnus who had made significant contributions to his alma mater, Koki was honored by the school at the alumni association executive committee meeting (2026.06.19).
Craft Beyond the Bar
Koki's "SHIRAHAMA Distillery" work gives Raven a direct connection to production, not only service. Raven uses original liqueurs and Japanese craft spirits to create cocktails that travelers can experience only in Japan. *Because we haven't exported overseas yet.
In particular, its flagship product, SHIRAHAMA Classic Triple Sec -ff- (middle photo), was created to recreate the impact that Triple Sec once had on the world. At a time when Triple Sec has increasingly become a mass-produced product, this liqueur seeks to restore what Triple Sec should truly be, shaped by the sensibility and passion of an active bartender.
In 2026, “Triple Sec -ff-” won a Silver Medal and scored 92 points at the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC), a world-renowned spirits competition.
And this product has received exceptionally high praise from experienced bartenders across Japan. It has been sold in nearly 20 prefectures, with approximately half of those customers making repeat purchases within one year.
Visit Cocktail Bar Raven
Raven is a 3-minute walk from Koiwa Station on the Sobu Line. Because the bar is small, reservations through official social media are recommended.
