Yokohama Jazz Cafe Dies

[Captain Japan]

Japan jazz fans bid sad farewell to historic cafe

YOKOHAMA, Japan (Reuters) - Once a haven for Japan's earliest jazz fans, cafe Chigusa is packing up its thousands of vinyl records and ending the final chapter of its 73-year history as music lovers switch on their iPods for a taste of Miles Davis.

Chigusa is among the oldest and the most cherished of Japan's jazz coffee shops that enjoyed a glorious epoch in the 1960s and early 70s, when students and musicians gathered to listen to imported albums that were otherwise beyond their means.

"Filled with sound, smoke, and hundreds of records, jazz coffeehouses used to be a space for young people who came looking for a proper understanding of the music," said Michael Molasky, author of "The Jazz Culture of Postwar Japan" and professor of Asian languages and literature at the University of Minnesota....more...

I highly doubt the iPod killed this place. If it is the same as most jazz cafes in Tokyo, the reason the interest faded is that it is old and refused to upgrade its facilities with the times. The coffee chain Tully's plays nearly 100% '60s-era Blue Note jazz and they seem to be doing fine.

[Mulboyne]

The owner of DUG in Shinjuku - "Modern Jazz and Booze since 1967" retired a week or two ago. It's been around a bit longer than that under different names. I understand that a new manager has agreed to take it on. These places usually close because the landlord wants to sell or redevelop or else the owner can't find anybody else to run it.

Interesting that Tully's is playing jazz. There used to be "jazz kissa" all over Tokyo for coffee and music. I wonder whether most Tully's customers really notice.

[Captain Japan]

I wonder whether most Tully's customers really notice.

That's a good point. I would guess that most don't. But it is one of the reasons I go in there.

As to DUG, the one thing I never could quite understand is why there are two operations within about 100 yards of each other on the same street. At least that used to be the case.

[Mulboyne]

As to DUG, the one thing I never could quite understand is why there are two operations within about 100 yards of each other on the same street. At least that used to be the case.

History of DIG, DUG and New DUG (Japanese)