Featured Bartender June 2025: Joseph “Joe” Arakawa, Anima by EDO/EDO and Spirit & Seoul, Las Vegas, NV

Joseph “Joe” Arakawa, 33, Korean and Caucasian mixed individual, born and raised on the Island of Oahu in Hawaii. Joe started his F&B career at his moms Korean restaurant in high school. After graduation Joe joined the Army Reserves and since then has done 3 combat tours and serves as a Chief Warrant Officer 2 for the United States Indo-Pacific Command Army Reserve Element. Upon return from his second tour in 2013, while trying to figure out what to do with life, Joe took a stab at medical school but realized science is hard. Joe got a job as a barback at a craft beer bar in Hawaii while in school and immediately fell in love with the craft. He went on to bartend and just two years into the industry was offered a bar manager’s position. Since then Joe has worked in various types of venues to include fine dining, casual restaurants, craft cocktail bars and higher volume venues. He moved to Las Vegas in 2021 post Covid and currently works as the Corporate Beverage Director for EDO Hospitality which has notable restaurants such as EDO, Anima by EDO, La Loba (Seattle), and the soon to open Brasseria in Las Vegas. Joe also runs a Korean Inspired Cocktail Pop-up called Spirit & Seoul with his business partner Jennifer Yim and has already done pop ups in various states and in Las Vegas. Joe also serves as the President for the USBG Las Vegas Chapter and mentors bartenders around the country. Joe has done several competitions, of note he was 2023 Licor 43 National Champion and Global Finalist in Spain, a 2024 Global Finalist for Patron Perfectionst, and has been a National finalist in various other competitions over the years. Joe has also been fortunate enough to have participated in the James Beard Legacy Cohort 2024-2025. When Joe isn’t working he enjoys being at the gym, outdoors, and spending time with his 2 cats Ekko and Yuumi.