Wakana Murata

Wakana Murata, fondly known as Waka, is a cool, quietly confident personality and a force of nature in Japan’s traditionally male-dominated bartending scene.

She initially pursued a career in marketing and recruitment, but it wasn’t long before the allure of bartending drew her in. A move to Singapore gave her the opportunity to refine her craft and deepen her understanding of mixology. There, she absorbed skills and techniques that would influence her signature approach—merging visual artistry with precise flavour balance. Gaining recognition for her innovation at global competitions such as Diageo World Class, she soon returned to Japan to take on a role at Gold Bar at The Tokyo Edition. Now, as head bartender at Tokyo Confidential, Murata delivers a cocktail experience that is engaging and polished, with each drink telling its own, meticulously executed story.

Murata’s drinks are an embodiment of her character—calm and composed yet playful and stylish. Her creative process is deeply visual, often starting with a colour scheme in mind. By selecting ingredients that share similar hues, she creates cocktails that blend well in flavour and appearance. In Tokyo Confidential’s signature Tea Sea, the base is Fords Gin, which Murata associates with white, green and blue tones. She then layers in sauvignon blanc, green tea and grappa, resulting in a cocktail that is visually striking and deliciously balanced.

What really makes her work behind the bar stand out is the way she marries fun with substance. She has an innate ability to take familiar ingredients and infuse them with unexpected elements, often drawing on Japanese spirits like awamori and doburoku, alongside international pours including agave-based spirits and champagne. Murata loves experimenting with ingredients that may be unfamiliar, taking the time to explain the stories behind them to those who want to hear them. Her drinks can be surprising with their unique combinations, yet every flavour and detail feels intentional and well-considered.

Murata is establishing herself as one of the most exciting talents in Japan’s bar scene. She proves that cocktails can be both lighthearted and deeply satisfying, with each sip revealing a vibrant interplay of technique, creativity and colour.