INDEX
Bar Old
Then, we thought it was time to get something to eat and made our way to Bar Old. On the way, we ran into a band member named Shion, who was on his way to Sapporo to record at a studio. I wished him luck and waved goodbye.
Bar Old is a genuine live venue with a DJ booth and a stage for acoustic performances, but the food was just as impressive. I enjoyed Shizuoka-style oden and vegan mixed noodles. The black fish cake topped with dashi powder was fantastic, and the mixed noodles, which could be enhanced with raw vinegar, had a delightful texture, with slightly firm noodles that complemented the pumpkin and shungiku perfectly. I finished everything in no time, my taste buds celebrating each bite.
The interior of the bar was filled with a peaceful and warm atmosphere, accompanied by the sounds of Ozaken, which only heightened the sense of bliss. The owner, Kurogome, was quite the lively person, serving us Amami Oshima black sugar shochu and vodka. As we enjoyed our drinks, we chatted away, laughing and saying things like, “Wow!”
“My friend recently mentioned, ‘The Prime Minister should be the person with the most friends in Japan,’ and I thought that was quite a valid point. I don’t necessarily want to promote the idea that having many friends makes someone better, though.”
“Still, politicians really do need to have the qualities of a good party organizer.”
With that, we continued our aimless conversation at the izakaya, covering topics like politics, music, and friendships. Kato shared a story about when NOT WONK performed with ZAZEN BOYS.
“After our set, I went to greet them in the green room, and Mukai Hidetaka said, ‘I can hear the sound of a Les Paul that I’ve listened to on records my whole life.’ That was all he said, but I thought it was an incredible compliment.”
At this point, I had already had quite a bit to drink, and Kato, who had been out until 2 AM the night before, had likely consumed twice as much as I had. We decided to head to another izakaya, but to our surprise, it was closed for the day. We stood there, frustrated, stomping our feet in front of the locked door. Damn it! Everyone I had talked to that day had praised the place and said the food was amazing, so not being able to go there at this moment was especially disappointing.
In our disappointment, we decided to explore a side street off the main road, where we came across an alley lined with prefabricated huts and entered a kushikatsu restaurant. The elderly owner had a more relaxed demeanor than being unfriendly, and he served up some delicious kushikatsu. While enjoying our drinks—either beer or possibly a highball—we began discussing music. When I mentioned my recent fascination with J-POP, he suggested I check out Takako Okamura’s album liberte. He explained that the synth sounds and their usage perfectly captured the trendy aspects of UK rock from that era and had a connection to the legendary band The Wake, which featured Bobby Gillespie. He also shared insights about Ken Hirai’s “KISS OF LIFE,” noting its impressive two-step beat, along with a few other recommendations.
