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May 19 2017 10 Comments

The distractions of a traditional Japanese bar

When it comes to the stress of work, life and the increasing madness of the world around us, traditional little bars can very often offer a brief, but welcome distraction. The only trouble is, the all-too-common addition of a TV, means such diversions invariably don’t last very long.

an old and traditional japanese bar

Categorized: Food and Drink, Photography

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Harry says

    5/19/2017 at 12:50 pm

    That’s a very interesting expression you’ve captured there! Any idea what caused it?

    Reply
    • Lee says

      5/19/2017 at 7:20 pm

      He was certainly very engrossed, wasn’t he? It was a news report on North Korea and their missile launches, so his interest was certainly understandable…

      Reply
  2. Denton says

    5/19/2017 at 4:48 pm

    Very cool bar. Huge fan of the retro feel!

    Reply
    • Lee says

      5/19/2017 at 7:20 pm

      It was a great little place. And yeah, definitely had a nice old-school vibe.

      Reply
  3. Coli says

    5/19/2017 at 5:16 pm

    This one is on the more cleaner side isn’t?:) this must have been a cold place with the kerosene stove on in the back there. How was the good?

    Reply
    • Lee says

      5/19/2017 at 7:23 pm

      Actually, it wasn’t as clean as it looks. The counter was, but the kitchen area was a very different story altogether. Perhaps that’s why the food was so tasty!

      It was a few weeks ago when I took this. North of Tokyo too. Warm in the day time, but it got a bit chilly after dark. Hence the stove.

      Reply
  4. cdilla says

    5/19/2017 at 6:42 pm

    TVs have no place in a bar. My local many years ago was forced by the owners to have a TV – and it had to be on when the bar opened. Unless, that is, a punter asked for it to be switched off. So the landlord offered a free drink to the first person to ask for it to be switched off. That had the added bonus of more folk turning up early in the hope of getting the free drink 🙂
    This bar is pretty clean. The white counter gives the businessman the confidence to rest his suit sleeve on it.
    I like the gas taps on the customer side. That would never fly in the UK.
    Is gas in Japan “flavoured” to smell like it does in the UK?

    Reply
    • Lee says

      5/19/2017 at 7:28 pm

      Totally agree. And when there is a TV, it’s almost impossible not to stare at it. Something this fella perfectly proves. That’s a great way to beat the telly problem though. Doubly good for business too!

      As I mentioned to Coli above, away from the counter it was quite a different story. But yeah, health and safety would no doubt put a stop to those pipes. Good question about the gas. It does have a smell I think, so presumably it does.

      Reply
  5. MrSatyre says

    5/22/2017 at 11:28 am

    I confess I’m intrigued by something a little more mundane: the gas line running from the customer-side of the counter to the burner on the top. That’s pretty peculiar IMO.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      5/22/2017 at 4:50 pm

      Yeah, that’s a good point. Hadn’t thought about that. Back in the day people perhaps had the option of cooking their own food on the counter? That, or it was very badly designed!

      Reply

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