Toru Itakura sipped whiskey from plastic cups as showgirls cavorted, bagpipes played and a little bit of Scotland came to Tokyo at a sampling for connoisseurs.

Itakura, a bar owner in Yokohama, finally chose a Scotch, as well as Ichiro's Malt, a little-known Japanese brand.

"The Japanese types deliver certain intricacies and aromas you can't find in Scotch," said Itakura, 33, sporting a patchwork cap and goatee.