At the Sea Guardian II bar in Yokohama's historic Hotel New Grand, a laminated addendum to the menu offers thoughts on selected drinks. Of the Bamboo cocktail, the writer asks, "Is this the foreigners' image of Japan?"
Clearly no, it's not.
The Bamboo's blend of dry sherry, French vermouth and orange bitters evokes balmy continental evenings and southern Europeans enjoying their six-month summer vacations. The drink's creator was German. His customers were European and U.S. dignitaries. There would be nothing remotely Japanese about the Bamboo but for its name and the fact that it happened to be conceived in Yokohama.