1946: Opened as a coffee shop and bar (currently located in the basement of Tokyu, where Saizeriya is now).

Mama (name unknown): 35 years old (photo above right: courtesy of Kamakura Literary Museum).

Regular customers: Hideo Kobayashi, Yasunari Kawabata, Mantaro Kubota, Masuo Kume, Jiro Osaragi, later joined by Masakiyo Tachihara (during his time at Waseda University).

19XX: Relocated to the left corner of Komachi-dori (current location of Fūjiya).

1960: Fire in the shop.

1961: Relocated to 1-5-18 Komachi, Kamakura, Kanagawa 248-0006 (next to UNION).

(Listed in Kamakura Cable Television's "Channel Guide", 17 October issue.)

19XX: Changed business format to a pub (photo shows signboard and interior).

30 October 2004: "Okāsan" (93 years old) injured her leg, and Reiko Mom (age unknown) took over, turning it into a snack bar.

October 2015: Reiko Mom passed away due to cirrhosis of the liver, and Saorin took over.

12 January 2024: Saorin passed away as well. 🌸

(The sentences below are translated by GPT)

A thick, windowless door that looks as if it is refusing entry. From behind it you can faintly hear out-of-tune 1970s karaoke. No one who has never been to a snack bar would dare to open this door.

The 'snack' genre of bars where you can drink is a strange space unique to Japan. It is neither a showplace nor a members-only establishment like cabarets and nightclubs. It is neither a place where entertainment is provided nor where gender is sold. It is very different from what it looks like at the entrance, and once you step inside, it is a space of time where there is not the slightest hint of weirdness, but a warm, family-like time. Most of the time, it is not the master who is there, but an idol called 'Mom'. It is a strange social space where regulars from the neighbourhood, visitors and the 'mom' enjoy talking with each other and singing karaoke.

In the snack bars, the position of the 'mom' is that of the 'idol'. Most 'moms' are beautiful in appearance, but customers are attracted to the snack bar more by the personality of the 'mom' than by her appearance. The term 'mom' came to be used in the early days of the snack bars because there was an idol who was like a mother to the community. However, the customers who are used to it don't call her 'Mom' out of the blue. The 'mom' of the shop has a nickname she wants you to call her.

Yes, Japan is not just a country that idolises 'kawaii' (cute) baby-faced people. There is a culture that has existed for half a century that is attracted to the charm of the lives of people who have lived a life of a hundred battles, and reveres their individuality. If you are tired of sightseeing during the day, why don't you dare to open the heavy doors of the 'snack bars'?　Then you may witness a truly profound night-time Japanese culture for adults.

There is an unspoken 'accustomed way of drinking' at the 'snack bar'.

1. 　The 'mom' is the 'guess-idol', and if you don't think so, then you must consider that you never had a chance at that 'snack'.
2. 　In front of the 'mom', every customer is an equal. There is no discrimination in terms of authority, status, type of occupation, age or rank. It is especially disgusting to see customers 'ingratiating' themselves with the restaurant.
3. 　Do not mount people. Refrain from "my shop" style behaviour. Sometimes people say things like "I know Mr 00" or "this is my shop", but they don't realise that they are secretly pitied by those around them.
4. 　Snack bars are places to enjoy time and space, so their source of income is table charges and liquor fees. Those who are qualified to enjoy a snack bar are those who do not hesitate to pay for this space-time. To do this, they should calculate that they can drop 2,000 yen per hour at the bar. Of course, the shop does not measure the time spent. This is because they expect ladies and gentlemen to behave in such a way towards their "idol of choice". Even if they can't drink alcohol, a seasoned customer would probably spend an additional hour by saying "Have one for Mr 00".
5. 　For things that other guests might not like, like smoking or karaoke, they would ask, "Do you mind?" or turn down the volume of a song a little.

If you know this much, you can go to any snack bar and will be pleasantly greeted by strangers as if you were old friends from years ago.