Born in Tokyo and raised in Vienna, Joji Hattori has shaped both the city’s music and culinary culture for many years.
As director of the Vienna Opera Summer, he is responsible for Vienna’s most significant classical music festival during the summer season. As a restaurateur, he has set new standards with the four-toque SHIKI restaurant. With his new SHIKI Boutique | Sakethek, Hattori is now bringing another piece of Japan to Vienna: fine sake, spirits, and rare traditional craftsmanship come together to create an experience that goes far beyond gastronomy.
Mr. Hattori, how do you feel living between your two cultures?
Joji Hattori: I am like a Japanese tree that was transplanted to Austria and was able to put down new roots. I also have several identities in my professional life: as a musician, I work almost exclusively with European repertoire, while as an entrepreneur, I want to make everything Japanese that is important to me accessible and tangible in Austria.
Music remains my greatest passion in terms of content and artistic expression, but the lifestyle of a musician never completely suited me. As an entrepreneur, on the other hand, I feel freer and more comfortable…
