Food and Drink

When putting together the previous post’s selection of Showa era shops and businesses, I was constantly reminded of the similarly dated bars and restaurants I’ve visited over the years, so this set of photographs nicely compliments the last one.

Each and every establishment was special in its own way, both in looks and ambience, but while there are a few I’ve visited several times, for regulars, they are a part of life rather than just a memorable experience. An element that makes the demise of at least six of them all the more disappointing. Little enclaves of comfort and escape, along with the decades long commitment of the owners, that means when they do inevitably disappear, way more than simply a building is lost.

That said, happily a good few remain, so for now at least they can be enjoyed to the fullest, with these photos providing merely a brief record of a much richer past.

Laughter and conversation are regular finds in local Tokyo bars. Opera glasses, on the other hand, are much rarer. An unexpected addition that made this already wonderful little establishment even better.

Once part of a chain consisting of ten bars owned by the same person, that connection has long since broken, with the business shifting to multiple, and completely separate ownership. That said, the majority now no longer exist, with this and one other the last two hold outs. However, with a relatively young proprietor who has already been there for a couple of decades, this particular place will hopefully be around for many more years to come.

In Tokyo’s western suburbs, this local restaurant has been in business for 50 years. Its owner opened the place when he was only 24 years old, making the small interior a truly massive part of his life for the last half a century. How much longer he’ll keep cooking for he doesn’t know, but for now at least things will carry on like they always have done. A situation that clearly doesn’t concern him in the slightest.

Generally I post photos with a theme, or as a way to try and tell a story. However, quite a few images don’t really work that way, and this selection is along those lines. Photographs taken during recent walks that if nothing else help to highlight the sheer variety of sights and scenery one can find in a city the size of Tokyo.

When looking for a photo last week, I had the pleasure of seeing the ones below again. Images that immediately brought back memories of a truly lovely little restaurant photographed back in 2017 when travelling round northern Japan.

Despite dealing with customers on a daily basis over the five decades or so the place had been in business, the owner was endearingly shy. Comically gruff at times too. So cigarettes and the television were his regular refuge when not called upon to cook. A quietness that was also reflected in the regulars who dropped by, with little in the way of conversation apart from a brief hello and a similarly quick order.

After recalling all that, I searched the area it was located in, not overly confident it would still be there. A pessimism that was sadly proven right, as where the restaurant once stood is now another dreaded car park, meaning the nearest to revisiting is only through these re-edits.