Stories - Suita City Asahi-dori Shopping Arcade VOICE 005 — The Cozy Sommelier Wine Bar Ritumu 山東 靖

― The warm moments of a wine bar created by service that cares about people ―

"I didn't start because I love wine. I started because I love serving people."

The one speaking is the master, 山東さん, who runs a beloved local wine bar. The menu is just a single handwritten sheet. The cheese served varies each time to match the individual. This style feels comfortable to both regulars and first-time guests.

I want wine to be more casual, to lower its barriers even further.

── What “creating a place to belong” means for Litum

"Creating a space where conversation can be enjoyed, creating a comfortable time"—that is, I think, the job I should do as a sommelier at Litum. Wine, cheese, service, and customers—if any of these are missing, a comfortable space cannot exist. The bar counter at Litum is filled with humanity and dedication.

There is no wine list.

"We don't have a wine list here."

First-time visitors are surprised, but that's part of the charm.

"People often say 'I'm not that knowledgeable...' but don't worry about it. Rather than me picking the wine, I search for your preferences together with you. I'm just enjoying that."

Even if there were a wine list, most people would order wine based on price, familiar names, or region.

── How to find your favorite glass, it shouldn't actually be that way

I think finding a glass that matches your taste is part of the joy of wine. You get closer to your preferred wine while enjoying conversation. At Litum, the 'process' of searching for a customer's ideal glass is also one of its attractions.

—Specialty cheese—

Smelly is delicious! Such cheeses are also selected and available. We always have several types of cheese: fresh, semi-hard, hard, washed, etc. The popular menu item is the 'Three-cheese assortment' that is arranged to suit each person's taste.

—A glass of your preference—

山東さん says, "What I provide isn't wine or cheese, it's 'time and space.'" His wonderful smile and lively talk could be the finest accompaniment.

Wanting to become a "professional" in service

I first felt that 'service is fun' while working part‑time at a café, and from that I wanted to become a 'service professional.' 山東さん's roots in hospitality lie in a hotel French restaurant.

"When the Hankyu International opened, I joined the restaurant. I was 21 at the time. I knew nothing about cooking, wine, or French, so I couldn't even understand the conversations flying around the kitchen. Still, I learned everything while doing the work," he reflects on the hardships and rewards of that time. 

What I developed during that time was 'observation skills.' I remembered a previous customer who left the consommé soup unfinished, and when they returned, I noticed early on that the chicken was not suitable and changed the dish accordingly. "That was received very well. I thought, 'Ah, this is what service is.'"

 My supervisor at the time told me, 'When you can take reservations under your own name, you're a full‑fledged professional.' I didn't understand at first, but now I get what it means.

Litum's next venue: an "English Conversation Bar"

The "English Conversation Bar" that opens only on Fridays is located on the third floor of Litum.

It's called Shot Bar RU (Rū). By the way, the name RU comes from R (Litum's) and U (up).

What a stylish naming sense.

The bar staff are current foreign language university students, and businessmen who use English at work, as well as university students who want to work abroad, also come to RU to learn English. Apparently, some students even commute from Ōtsu in Shiga Prefecture after discovering RU on social media.

Conversation is mainly in English, but there are many touches throughout to let beginners enjoy English, making it a space where you can learn English while drinking. RU also has video games, so families can have a fun time; we hope you'll drop by at least once.

―　Shot Bar RU　―

Every Friday / 18:00–22:00 All‑you‑can‑drink / ¥2,500 Food / BYO allowed

StoreInformation

WINE BAR RYTHME – Wine Bar Rythme

> Access

〒564-0032
2-1-5 Uchihonmachi, Suita City, Osaka Prefecture
8‑minute walk from JR Suita Station
No dedicated parking　
※There are paid parking ticket areas and
paid coin parking available.

> Hours

5:30 PM – 12:00 AM
No reservation required (it would be helpful if you could contact us in advance).
Closed on Mondays

> Phone number
０６－６３１７－１１１７

Wine Bar Rythme | Mawurimi - Osaka Prefecture

Business type: wine bar / wine shop. It operates as a wine shop during the day and as a wine bar at night. Senior sommeliers have carefully selected wines from around the world, which can be enjoyed together with aged cheese. Please spend an adult moment enjoying a drink while conversing with the master in a calm setting. The interview article of Suita City Asahimichi Shopping Street VOICE is here

Mawurimi

VOICE interview article handled by "Suita Information Bureau" by Suita City Asahimichi Shopping Street

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