INDEX
Aiming for an authentic bar, named “Chokasu Chikara
Celeina: You have also been operating a bar in Koenji since 2015, how did that come about?
Choshu: Originally, I had been working part-time in Shinjuku’s Golden Gai for 7 to 8 years, and was vaguely thinking that I wanted to open a bar someday, when the owner of my favorite rock bar, Octobar, which specializes in indie rock, said he was quitting. So I asked him to lease the space to me, and the next day I went to a real estate agent and moved in.
Celeina: Your vitality is amazing! Where does that vitality come from? Has it always been there?
Choshu: Probably, I think so.
Takano: The name BAR Chikara Choshu is also interesting.
Choshu: I think the name is a bit of a misnomer (laughs). (Laughs.) I am quite serious about what I do, but I think the name Chikara Choshu might give people a different image of me.
Takano: Is there a reason you named it after yourself?
Choshu: Authentic bars often have last names. For example, “Kurata. So I thought “Chikara Choshu” would be authentic, but if the name is strange, it is not authentic at all (laughs).
Takano: What kind of people come to your concerts?
Choshu: Many of the customers are music lovers, comedy fans, manga fans, movie fans, and people who like to talk about culture. They are all very pleasant customers, and many of them know more about various things than I do, so I learn a lot from them, which helps me a lot.
Takano: It’s nice to be able to get along with everyone, so please check out BAR Chokara. Now, I would like to play a song here. I asked Chikara Choshu to choose a song that he would like everyone to listen to together on the radio at this time. What song would it be?
Choshu: Since it is a hot summer day, I wanted to play a summery song. I chose a song called “Keiko Sato Sensei wa Zankoku na Hito (Ms. Keiko Sato is a Zankoku person),” which was written by Morio Agata about his first love teacher in elementary school. By the way, the bass guitarist is Haruomi Hosono. Please enjoy.
