# E8 - A Challenge
Source: [Crunchyroll](https://www.crunchyroll.com/watch/GX9UQWE80/a-challenge)
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(Please feel free to edit the speaker names if incomplete or inaccurate. Names are handled on a best-effort basis depending on the info on the source file. Dialogue is left as is.)
***SIGN*** Ginza Shopping Center
***SIGN*** Ginza M's Building
**[00:02] Ryu**
What? You want... *me* for that?
**[00:06] Miwa**
Yes. My grandfather absolutely insists.
**[00:10] Taizo**
Mm-hmm. I'd like you to.
**[00:12] Ryu**
I don't think it's my place to comment
on who you hire at the hotel.
**[00:17] Taizo**
Well, I'm not asking you to act like
you work in the HR department.
**[00:23] Taizo**
You've heard of the Cocktail Award, right?
**[00:27] Ryu**
Yes. Some bartenders I know are competing.
**[00:31] Ryu**
I've been hearing a lot about it.
**[00:34] Taizo**
The Cocktail Award is a competition
for original cocktails.
**[00:39] Taizo**
It isn't just about demonstrating
your abilities to the judges.
**[00:43] Taizo**
It's also a test of your imagination
in creating a new cocktail.
**[00:48] Taizo**
The hotel's lounge bar is a kind of stage
where one performs for a large audience.
**[00:52] Taizo**
I'm not looking for mere skill.
**[00:55] Taizo**
I want a bartender
who's willing to try new things.
**[01:00] Miwa**
Well, yes, that's about it.
**[01:03] Miwa**
So we'd like to ask you to observe the
Cocktail Award finals and share your opinions.
**[01:10] Taizo**
You don't need to put
too much thought into it.
**[01:12] Taizo**
All we ask is that you tell us
which contestants you found interesting.
**[01:18] Miwa**
So, would that be all right with you?
**[01:22] Ryu**
You always ask the impossible
as if it's nothing.
**[01:25] Ryu**
I'm sure this is difficult
for the contestants too, though.
***SIGN*** Glass of God
**[03:02] Kyoko**
Have a good evening.
***SIGN*** Minami
**[03:04] Minami**
Good work today.
**[03:05] Minami**
Are you going to stay and practice again?
**[03:07] Kyoko**
Yes. I'll be sure to clean up afterward.
**[03:11] Minami**
Don't wear yourself out, okay?
**[03:14] Kyoko**
All right.
**[03:18] Kyoko**
* That's easy to say, but I've got to practice*
* a lot more to compete for the award.*
**[03:26] Kyoko**
* I've got to make a cocktail*
* in front of all of those judges,*
**[03:30] Kyoko**
* so I'd better be confident*
* about what I'm doing.*
**[03:34] Kyoko**
Ouch.
**[03:36] Kyoko**
* If they see how clumsy I am, it'll tarnish*
* the reputation of Bar Minami.*
**[03:43] Kyoko**
*Anyway, it's all about practice!*
**[03:48] Uehara**
So, how's it going? Decide on a recipe yet?
**[03:51] Yuri**
Not yet.
**[03:53] Uehara**
Oh? Are those past winners?
**[03:55] Yuri**
I thought they might give me a hint.
**[03:58] Uehara**
The award is a competition
for original cocktails.
**[04:01] Uehara**
That "original" part is
the real tricky part, huh?
**[04:04] Yuri**
Yes. Every year, many
new recipes are submitted.
**[04:09] Yuri**
I have to make something different
from all of them. A real original.
**[04:12] Uehara**
I guess, historically speaking,
the most famous one was Snow Country.
**[04:17] Yuri**
It seems so.
***SIGN*** m 0 0 l 17 0 13 5 0 5
***SIGN*** m 0 0 l 100 0 100 70 0 70
***SIGN*** RECIPE
***SIGN*** Snow Country
***SIGN*** Yukiguni
***SIGN*** Japanese Craft Vodka HAKU (White)
***SIGN*** Hermes White Curaçao
***SIGN*** Suntory Cocktail Lime
***SIGN*** 1. Shake, then pour into a cocktail glass that
has been rimmed snow-style with sugar.
***SIGN*** 2. Decorate with a mint cherry.
**[04:19] Yuri**
1959, huh.
**[04:22] Yuri**
How old were you then?
**[04:24] Uehara**
Oh, I wasn't born yet. That was even
before Okinawa was returned to Japan.
**[04:29] Yuri**
Is that right? What a surprise.
**[04:31] Uehara**
What's a surprise?
***SIGN*** 1. Shake and pour into cocktail glass.
***SIGN*** 2. Garnish with candy, heavenly bamboo leaf,
glass noodle, dragée, black olive.
***SIGN*** Umemiyabi
***SIGN*** m 0 0 l 17 0 13 5 0 5
***SIGN*** m 0 0 l 100 0 100 75 0 75
***SIGN*** RECIPE
***SIGN*** Suntory Plum Liqueur 20ml
(Blended with Sakura Barrel-Aged Plum Liqueur
from Yamazaki Distillery)
***SIGN*** Lejay Crème de Cassis 15ml
***SIGN*** Calvados Boulard Grand Solage 10ml
***SIGN*** Fresh Orange Juice 10ml
***SIGN*** Sandeman Ruby Porto 5ml
**[04:33] Uehara**
What's that one?
**[04:34] Yuri**
The cocktail that won last year.
The Umemiyabi.
**[04:37] Yuri**
"The plum wine-based Japanese craft cocktail
that enchanted the world," huh.
**[04:43] Uehara**
People sure think up
some interesting drinks.
**[04:46] Yuri**
The recipe is hard enough, but the part
I'm struggling with most is the name.
**[04:52] Yuri**
It has to be memorable,
easy to order at a bar,
**[04:56] Yuri**
and have some kind of story behind it.
**[04:58] Uehara**
You always have an eye
for details like that.
**[05:01] Uehara**
Don't you think *eye*'m right?
**[05:03] Yuri**
If I could just figure out the name,
everything else would fall into place.
**[05:07] Uehara**
Well, don't overthink it, or else
you're gonna make your chiburu yamu.
**[05:12] Yuri**
Nobody says "head hurts"
in the Okinawan dialect anymore.
**[05:17] Uehara**
Nankuru nai! It'll all work out!
**[05:19] Yuri**
Okinawan dialect, huh...
***SIGN*** Ryukyu Aged
***SIGN*** Shimakiku
***SIGN*** Ryukyu Awamori
30 Percent
***SIGN*** Oukyu
***SIGN*** Ryukyu
Awamori
***SIGN*** Umikaze
***SIGN*** Imaizumi
***SIGN*** Ogura
***SIGN*** Sharpen
Up
***SIGN*** Minami
**[06:00] Kyoko**
Have a good evening.
**[06:06] Minami**
Good work today.
**[06:07] Kyoko**
Oh, Minami-san!
**[06:09] Kyoko**
I'm sorry. I start to worry
when I'm not practicing.
**[06:14] Minami**
Two things that are crucial for a
bartender are to see and to be seen.
**[06:20] Minami**
Your customers are also watching you,
just like the judges will.
**[06:25] Minami**
You mustn't make your guests
feel uncomfortable.
**[06:28] Kyoko**
Right.
**[06:29] Minami**
Why don't you actually take a look
at yourself? To see how you look?
**[06:35] Kyoko**
Huh?
**[06:38] Kyoko**
*Good idea.*
**[06:39] Kyoko**
* If I watch a video of myself, I may spot*
* some mistakes and things I need to change.*
**[06:47] Kyoko**
*I shouldn't get so nervous recording myself.*
**[06:53] Ryu**
So you already went to the semi-finals?
**[06:55] Kyoko**
Yes. Last weekend.
**[06:58] Miwa**
How did it go?
**[06:59] Kyoko**
I think it went well.
**[07:02] Kyoko**
Now I just have to wait for
the judges' decision.
**[07:05] Kyoko**
While I continue practicing, of course.
**[07:08] Kyoko**
I've been shaking that big shaker
so much that I built some muscle!
**[07:12] Miwa**
That must have been really tough.
**[07:15] Kyoko**
Oh, that's right.
He was one of the contestants!
**[07:19] Ryu**
Huh?
**[07:20] Kyoko**
Chen-kun! Chen-kun. I was so surprised.
**[07:25] Ryu**
Chen-kun was there?
**[07:26] Kyoko**
Yes. I heard that he quit Bar K, but I wonder
if he's been training at another bar.
**[07:32] Miwa**
How did he seem then?
**[07:35] Kyoko**
Well, he was unfriendly, as usual,
**[07:39] Kyoko**
but what really frustrated me was that...
**[07:45] Kyoko**
he was still so hot.
**[07:49] Miwa**
Sasakura-san, have you heard anything?
**[07:53] Ryu**
No. I haven't heard anything
since the meeting with his father.
**[07:58] Ryu**
But I guess he didn't give up
on being a bartender.
**[08:14] Miwa**
I'm so glad that everybody
made it into the finals!
**[08:19] Ryu**
So am I. They've spent every waking moment
practicing for their big performance.
**[08:26] Miwa**
I hope everything goes well.
**[08:38] Uehara**
Haisai, gang!
**[08:42] Uehara**
I brought something for you all to eat.
**[08:45] Uehara**
Sata andagi.
**[08:48] Uehara**
Try to keep your composure.
**[08:50] Uehara**
Don't get so flustered you
can't speak a *ward*. Yeah.
**[08:54] Uehara**
Just go grab that *award*.
**[08:57] Contestant**
What was that? Some kind of dad joke?
**[09:01] Uehara**
Yuri-chan.
**[09:03] Uehara**
Chibariyo!
**[09:06] Yuri**
I will!
**[09:14] (Flashback) Chen**
I want to live my life as a bartender!
**[09:22] Chen**
*If Dad doesn't want to allow it,*
**[09:29] Chen**
* then I'll have to force him*
* to accept the fact*
**[09:33] Chen**
*that I'm a bartender!*
***SIGN*** Glass of God
**[09:49] Announcer**
* Ladies and gentlemen,*
* thank you for joining us today.*
**[09:53] Announcer**
* It's time for the Suntory*
* Cocktail Award finals to begin.*
**[09:59] Announcer**
* But first, we would like to ask*
* the representative from the judges,*
**[10:03] Announcer**
*Kuzuhara Ryuichi, to say a few words.*
**[10:07] Kuzuhara**
In 1931, The Cocktail Award was established
as the first cocktail competition in Japan.
**[10:15] Kuzuhara**
It was held to facilitate the spread
of Western cocktail culture in Japan.
**[10:19] Kuzuhara**
What we ask of you bartenders
is your unfaltering discipline
**[10:24] Kuzuhara**
and creative innovation.
**[10:27] Kuzuhara**
We hope that each of you can fully
demonstrate the fruits of your labor today
**[10:31] Kuzuhara**
and wish you the best of luck.
**[10:35] Announcer**
* Well then, on to entry*
* number one: Kinjo Yuri.*
**[11:11] Announcer**
*And now, please present your cocktail.*
**[11:15] Yuri**
This cocktail is called the Chimugukuru.
***SIGN*** Chimugukuru
***SIGN*** m 0 0 l 80 0 80 60 0 60
***SIGN*** Japanese Craft Vodka 30ml
***SIGN*** Lejay Pear 10ml
***SIGN*** Hermes Blue Curaçao 10ml
***SIGN*** Suntory Sudachi Watsunagi 5ml
***SIGN*** Fresh Lime Juice 5ml
**[11:19] Yuri**
When I left my home in Okinawa and was
struggling to fit into a new environment,
**[11:24] Yuri**
my bartending senpai, who was also
from Okinawa, came to my rescue.
**[11:29] Yuri**
The name is an Okinawan word
that means "heart" or "empathy."
**[11:34] Yuri**
The drink expresses the warmth
of friendship with a vodka that,
**[11:38] Yuri**
like Okinawan Awamori,
is made from rice. Haku.
**[11:41] Yuri**
It is also made to be
reminiscent of the blue sea.
**[11:46] Announcer**
*Thank you very much.*
**[11:53] Announcer**
*Next up is entry number two: Kawakami Kyoko.*
**[11:59] Kyoko**
*The glasses are chilled.*
**[12:01] Kyoko**
* The positioning of the shaker,*
* measuring cup, and bottles is okay.*
**[12:06] Kyoko**
*Now I just have to do what I practiced.*
**[12:22] Kyoko**
*Why... can't I move?*
**[12:26] Kyoko**
*I practiced so much for this.*
**[12:30] Kyoko**
*I'm gonna run out of time.*
**[12:33] Kyoko**
*If I fail now, it'll look bad for Bar Minami!*
**[12:40] Kyoko**
*Minami-san... came to root for me?*
**[12:48] Kyoko**
* He's the one who sent me to the*
* competition to represent his bar.*
**[12:54] Kyoko**
*He believes in me!*
**[13:18] Kyoko**
My cocktail is called the Headwind.
***SIGN*** m 0 0 l 80 0 80 60 0 60
***SIGN*** Headwind
***SIGN*** (Mukaikaze)
***SIGN*** Suntory World Whiskey Ao 30ml
***SIGN*** Kimia 10ml
***SIGN*** Drambuie 10ml
***SIGN*** Suntory Ginger Watsunagi 5ml
***SIGN*** Fresh Lemon Juice 5ml
**[13:21] Kyoko**
Since deciding to become a bartender,
I've faced a lot of challenges and setbacks.
**[13:27] Kyoko**
I decided to to face that wind of pain
and confusion head on and inhale all of it!
**[13:33] Kyoko**
That's why I made this drink.
**[13:35] Kyoko**
The flavor has a big kick to it.
**[13:38] Kyoko**
But don't give up. Face it head on!
**[13:53] Announcer**
*Next up is entry number 12: Kelvin Chen.*
***SIGN*** Kelvin Chen
**[14:05] Miwa**
His movements really are graceful.
**[14:08] Ryu**
Yeah. But...
**[14:16] Chen**
* I thoroughly researched cocktail contests*
* around the world, not only those in Japan,*
**[14:20] Chen**
* and studied what points*
* they were evaluated on.*
**[14:23] Chen**
* Movements have to be big, but smooth.*
* Use your whole hand, down to the fingertips.*
**[14:29] Chen**
* That said, I never expected*
* Kuzuhara-sensei to be one of the judges,*
**[14:33] Chen**
* but he isn't the type of person to let*
* personal feelings cloud his judgment.*
**[14:36] Chen**
*There's no need to hesitate.*
**[14:39] Chen**
*I'll serve an equal amount with each pour.*
**[14:44] Chen**
* I sent my dad the address for the online*
* video stream. This is my response to him.*
**[14:50] Chen**
*Now they'll all have to accept me.*
**[14:52] Chen**
*The judges... as well as my dad!*
**[15:08] Chen**
*I've failed?*
**[15:10] Chen**
*I can't expect a decent result now.*
**[15:15] Chen**
*Is this the end of my life as a bartender?*
**[15:27] Miwa**
Huh?
**[15:30] Miwa**
Why?
**[15:33] Chen**
I named this Lion City.
***SIGN*** m 0 0 l 80 0 80 65 0 65
***SIGN*** Lion City
***SIGN*** Japanese Craft Gin 20ml
***SIGN*** Lejay Framboise 20ml
***SIGN*** Suntory Yuzu Watsunagi 10ml
***SIGN*** Suntory Grenadine Syrup 10ml
***SIGN*** Fresh Pineapple Juice 20ml
***SIGN*** Fresh Lemon Juice 10ml
**[15:36] Chen**
I wanted to make a cocktail that would
represent my home, Singapore.
**[15:43] Kuzuhara**
May I ask a question?
**[15:44] Kuzuhara**
Why did you only finish one cocktail?
**[15:48] Kuzuhara**
Even if you couldn't make the required five
cocktails, you at least could have made four.
**[15:56] Chen**
I decided to participate in the award
because I wanted to be praised and accepted.
**[16:05] Chen**
But I realized that, for a very long time,
**[16:07] Chen**
all I've cared about
is being accepted by others.
**[16:12] Chen**
But that wasn't because
I wanted to improve myself.
**[16:15] Chen**
I think I was simply afraid
of not being accepted.
**[16:20] Chen**
However, after I made that mistake, I still
strongly felt that I didn't want to give up.
**[16:28] Chen**
Even if I am disqualified for this, I wanted
to complete the cocktail that I created.
**[16:33] Chen**
I put all of those feelings
into this one glass.
**[16:38] Kuzuhara**
Well then, why did you use a recipe
different from the one you submitted?
**[16:43] Kuzuhara**
That recipe shows only one chrysanthemum,
***SIGN*** Kelvin Chen
***SIGN*** Lion City
***SIGN*** m 0 0 l 80 0 80 65 0 65
***SIGN*** Japanese Craft Gin 20ml
***SIGN*** Lejay Framboise 20ml
***SIGN*** Suntory Yuzu Watsunagi 10ml
***SIGN*** Suntory Grenadine Syrup 10ml
***SIGN*** Fresh Pineapple Juice 20ml
***SIGN*** Fresh Lemon Juice 10ml
**[16:47] Kuzuhara**
but your final drink is garnished with two.
**[16:52] Chen**
I made this cocktail to represent Singapore.
**[16:56] Chen**
However, I then realized that wasn't enough.
**[17:01] Chen**
I don't have one home country.
**[17:04] Chen**
I also have roots in the country
with a flag of red and white. Japan.
**[17:09] Chen**
In addition to my pride in my fatherland,
**[17:12] Chen**
I want to show my respect to the country
that taught me how to live as a bartender.
**[17:15] Chen**
To the culture of Japan.
**[17:17] Chen**
And this is the cocktail I wanted
to make. This is my cocktail.
**[17:23] Kuzuhara**
I have no further questions.
**[17:27] Miwa**
Chen-san!
**[17:34] Announcer**
*Well then, it is time to present the winner.*
***SIGN*** Keypad
***SIGN*** Speaker
***SIGN*** Others
**[17:44] Chen**
Hello?
***SIGN*** Chimugukuru
***SIGN*** Kinjo Yuri
***SIGN*** Congratulations!
Winner
**[18:00] Uehara**
Yuri-chan, one more Chimugukuru.
**[18:03] Yuri**
Coming up.
**[18:08] Miwa**
I wonder what happened
to Chen-san after that.
**[18:12] Ryu**
I hear he's continuing to train
as a bartender in Singapore
**[18:16] Ryu**
at the bar in his father's hotel.
**[18:18] Miwa**
Really? I'm glad.
**[18:22] Ryu**
Have you decided on a bartender
to work in your lounge yet?
**[18:26] Miwa**
Yes. Following your recommendation,
we made an offer to Kyoko-san.
**[18:31] Miwa**
My grandfather was happily saying, "I bet
she'll put a new wind in this bar's sails."
**[18:38] Ryu**
I'm glad to hear it.
***SIGN*** Minami
**[18:43] Minami**
Kawakami-kun.
**[18:45] Kyoko**
Yes?
**[18:46] Minami**
I'm going out for a bit.
Keep an eye on things.
**[18:49] Kyoko**
All right.
**[18:54] Kyoko**
It's been four years
since I first came to this bar.
**[19:01] (Flashback) Kyoko**
Oh, shove it! I'm not drunk at all!
**[19:05] Kyoko**
* I drowned my sorrows a little too much*
* and was an awful customer.*
**[19:11] (Flashback) Minami**
Do you know what kind of job
bartending really is?
**[19:16] (Flashback) Minami**
It's to make sure that
when a guest goes home,
**[19:21] (Flashback) Minami**
they're just a little happier than
when they walked through the door.
**[19:26] (Flashback) Minami**
That's what this work is for.
**[19:30] (Flashback) Minami**
As such, perhaps it's best to
make that your last drink.
**[19:37] Kyoko**
And now I'm standing here behind the bar.
**[19:44] Kyoko**
Welcome.
**[19:45] Kyoko**
Uh. Minami-san?
**[19:48] Minami**
I came alone. Is that all right?
**[19:52] Minami**
I'd like a Horse's Neck.
**[19:56] Kyoko**
Uh, sure. As you wish.
**[20:03] Kyoko**
*Could this possibly mean...?*
**[20:08] Kyoko**
Here you are. A Horse's Neck.
**[20:23] Kyoko**
Um...
**[20:24] Kyoko**
I, Kawakami Kyoko, would like
to move on from Bar Minami.
**[20:29] Kyoko**
Is that all right?
**[20:31] Minami**
A bartender never moves on.
**[20:35] Minami**
From day to day, from second to second,
a person is always changing.
**[20:39] Minami**
The cocktails you mix for guests
should also always be changing.
**[20:44] Minami**
Bartending is a job with
a beginning but no end.
**[20:50] Minami**
Thank you very much. I wish you
the best of luck at your new position.
**[20:56] Kyoko**
Sir!
**[20:58] Kyoko**
Was I able to make you just a little happier
than when you walked through the door?
**[21:08] Minami**
Yes.
**[21:14] Kyoko**
Thank you very much.
**[22:49] Taizo**
So, how did things go
with that fellow from Singapore?
**[22:53] Kuzuhara**
He was extremely immature. Very green.
**[22:57] Taizo**
That sounds like he has promise.
**[23:00] Taizo**
The Western cocktail was
originally an imported culture,
**[23:03] Taizo**
but Japanese bars made
their own new developments,
**[23:06] Taizo**
and now young people come
from overseas to study that.
**[23:09] Taizo**
How the times have changed.
**[23:13] Kuzuhara**
Speaking of green, do you still have
your sights set on that one bartender?
**[23:19] Taizo**
There's nobody else worth
opening up the counter bar for.
**[23:26] Kuzuhara**
Do you think he'll eventually
make his way there?
**[23:27] Taizo**
With the Glass of God?
**[23:30] Taizo**
We're certainly making progress toward that.
**[23:34] Taizo**
But he is moving very slowly.
***SIGN*** We apologize for the
inconvenience caused by construction.
We are conscious of the local
environment and are
taking pains to work as safely
as possible, so we hope you
can please forgive this temporary intrusion.
***SIGN*** Planned Work Days This Week
***SIGN*** Monday
***SIGN*** Tuesday
***SIGN*** Wednesday
***SIGN*** Thursday
***SIGN*** Friday
***SIGN*** A Message to the Neighborhood
***SIGN*** Episode 9