Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Will you tarry awhile with me? Kissaten...

[At 3 p.m. precisely, a staffer in Meikyoku kissa Lion in Shibuya quietly announces the start of today's "concert." Silence descends as she places a record on the player. A gray-haired customer puffs on a cigarette at his corner table.

The hush is almost reverential, and indeed the meikyoku kissa (a "tearoom for musical masterpieces") is a shrine to the twin passions of music and coffee. In addition to the twice daily so-called concerts, you can request your favorite pieces of classical music. The tables and paired seats are arranged in rows facing the speakers, the effect is oddly like a theater.

"The mid-1950s and early '60s were our golden age. This place was packed with young people and students," says Muneo Ishihara, the owner of Lion.

Today, Lion is one of the last meikyoku kissa in Tokyo, though small, quirky kissaten like it can be still found in back alleys.

At one time, though, kissaten were an integral part of people's lives. Coffee shops were first introduced in the Meiji Era (1868-1912), modeled after European cafes. (In Japan, however, the name kafe was first applied to establishments also selling alcoholic beverages; tea- and coffee shops were known as kissaten.)

With the explosion of cafe chains, such as Doutor Coffee in the '80s, however, competition intensified, driving prices down. Coupled with the sharp increase in land prices during the bubble era, the number of kissaten in Tokyo has plummeted.

"If this kind of coffee shop disappears in our lifetime, it will mean that people have lost as well the time and leisure to enjoy such places. That would be a great shame," says Mariko Kobayashi, the new owner of the cafe.]

Source : The Japan Times

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How sad if you and I no longer have the time (nor the inclination) to sit down over a hot bowl of ramen to chat. No time to linger and ponder, nor sit and write.

Everyone needs a cozy place to feel at ease. To hide from the bustle and madness of the rat-race.


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Well apparently, young people no longer feel the need to 'slow down'. And few writers leave the comfort of their homes and laptops to sit in a space to study and pen their thoughts.

"If this kind of coffee shop disappears in our lifetime, it will mean that people have lost as well, the time and leisure to enjoy such places. That would be a great shame. "

A great shame indeed.


* food featured: Tonkotsu Ramen RM15.90, Charsiew Lam Mee RM12.90



Add:
Kissaten Coffee and Restaurant,
L12A-1-1, Palm Square
JAYA ONE
72A Jalan Universiti
46200 PJ

Tel: 03-7954 1990


15 comments:

Lyrical Lemongrass said...

I don't think we've ever had a problem slowing down and taking time to think and enjoy each other's company. :-) Oh waitaminute...you talking about young people, izzit?? Like those who are between 10 and 15, rite?

Lithium said...

Yum yum!!! So dis is after or b4 the 10-12KM? ;)

thule a.k.a leo said...

char siew lam mee @ Kissaten??? lol...

Ciki said...

LL: YAR, our age group la..:p

Lithium: after!

Thule: yarrrr... Its on da menu ....

Sean said...

hmmm, too bad the kissaten at jaya one isn't quite like the ones described in japan. :P
i just watched this japanese movie, departures, about a cellist who becomes a mortician. a gentle meditation on life, family, friends and death. based on your words, i think you'll like it. it's showing now in kl if u haven't caught it.

Kenny Mah said...

I really like this post, it's how I like my foodblogs to be, to go beyond the surface crunch and munch, and have substantial layers beneath... in this case, yeppers... we are rushing too much hor? No wonder the Slow Food movement started some time back in Italia... Jom kita ikut also?

Next time we're invited to FBB's parties we can stay lama lama lama tak pulang rumah... How's that for Slow Food? :P

Selba said...

You know exactly how to make me drool!!! Yummmm...

choi yen said...

I tot both are same only the noodle is different :P

Bangsar-bAbE said...

I love the look of that slightly runny yolk...so tempting!

Hey, we can bring our sleeping bag to FBB's parties!! =P

Sugar Bean said...

Oh, I've watch the movie Sean said - Okuribito, really good movie!

Wish there would be a day that I can visit Japan's meikyoku kissa!

jencooks said...

Mee too, enjoyed this post on one shd take time to breath and smell the flowers in this case the bowl of Japanese noodles; not quite the "fast to cook, good to eat" but note that runny egg must be precise at 6minutes, nothing more !

Yes, agree with Kenny his views too and his tak mau pulang tapi duduk lama lama, limp kopi! I guess !

fatboybakes said...

i feel like i just watched that jap movie tampopo...after that i had a massive ramen craving... almost drove me mad. you ARE evil.

Rebecca Saw said...

yess..sit down, let the worries ebb away..take in the environment, breath in the air, enjoy & actually listen to the company ard u..most of all, appreciate the time spent with each otr..

My Taste Heaven said...

looks yummy, i couldn't hold back my hunger anymore....i demand one of that right now!!!!!!

Ciki said...

Sean, Sugar Bean:
yes! i need to watch that movie too la.. thx for the reminder:D

LFB:
slow food, slow talk.. how nice!

selba:
i try!

mimi:
well spotted!

bbabe:
ROFL.. yar and camping tents!! LOL

jen:
oh, i see you like to linger over food and chit chat too!

FBB:
all u do is read my posts and say you wanna eat.. and call me evil..
what la you! go eat already:P ROFL

TNG:
agree!

my taste heaven:
go makan go:)