Food and Drink

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.

My first sighting of this lovely little yakitori stall was back in April 2017. I’d passed by the spot several times during daylight hours, and everything had been locked up — the shops located there having long since closed down. From late afternoon onwards though the shutters were lifted and the stall was wheeled out. Then once on the street the grilling could commence. A wonderfully novel idea that I saw again a couple of years later in November 2019.

Sadly they were the only two sightings. Presumably I was either too early on most occasions, or got the day wrong on others. Now, however, it makes no difference what time or even day it is, as the building has been replaced by yet another nondescript car park.

This old Tokyo tofu shop has been a favourite of mine for years. The way everything leans this way and that is incredibly appealing, and the huge sign above is without a doubt very special indeed. Or perhaps more accurately, it was special, as sadly it suffered irreparable damaged during a typhoon several years ago and has never been replaced.

Still, sign or no sign, there remains a lot to like, and as an added extra of sorts, the buildings behind the shop were recently demolished, exposing its similarly ramshackle rear.

Below then are some photos taken over the years. Images that date from 2018 to as recently as just last week.