Open BAR in Tokyo

#8 Finding Showa Club and a snack tasting from Ginza.

From Kanda Station North Exit, the video guides viewers past landmarks like Fujisoba, the Chiyoda Rubber red sign, and the Iron Smith sign, before arriving at the Takato Building. Guests ride a retro elevator and push through a hidden heavy door, adding to the club’s secret charm. The second half features a Ginza snack review, ranking favorites into “first-string” and “second-string.” Top picks included Camembert cheese snacks, wasabi sesame, dry orange, and tiramisu chocolate, while others like Heart Pie Mini, scallop snacks, and Popple pasta were tasty but less impressive.

#7 Defining a Good Experience

In this episode, Takuji Kitagawa and Hiroyuki Jinro explore the question: “What makes a good experience?” Takuji shares his personal definition—the sharing of time and space with people who hold a common understanding or shared recognition. They bring this idea to life with examples ranging from music concerts and high-end restaurants to humble gyudon shops, illustrating how a truly good experience emerges when customer expectations align with what the provider delivers, all within a shared moment and setting. The conversation also connects this concept to Takuji’s experience-based store, b8ta, where both customers and staff come together with the shared goal of discovering something new. They discuss why these human interactions are becoming more valuable in an AI-driven era, where efficiency dominates but empathy and shared moments remain irreplaceable. This thinking also informs the design of the Neo Snack community at Showa Club, which aims to create memorable experiences by fostering shared time and space among diverse individuals. The episode closes with an invitation for listeners to reflect on their own recent “good experiences.”

#6 Q&A: Building the Neo Showa Snack - Design, Challenges, and Global Ambitions

The debut Q&A covers Takuji & Jindo’s Neo Snack “Showa Club”: a nostalgic velvet-and-wood interior updated with cashless payments and male staff to welcome solo women. Sourcing the signature “Showa red” fabric and rising build costs are the biggest hurdles, though construction is underway. Plans include a house “Showa Club” whisky sour, dream guests from Shoin Yoshida to Jony Ive, and outreach to tourists via TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and IG.

#5 Showa Club: Neo-Snack Where Anyone Can Host

Showa Club is a members-only “neo-snack” opening in Kanda, Tokyo, where the Mama/Papa host changes daily—from startup CEOs, tea-ceremony masters or/and maybe you. Expect intimate cultural pop-ups, retro-game nights, and brand testbeds that turn every visit into a fresh community experience.

#4 An Urban Oasis for the Modern Soul

In this episode, we dive into the concept of "Neo-Snack"—a reimagined version of Japan’s beloved snack bars, designed to serve as a stable place of belonging in the ever-changing urban landscape. Targeting businesspeople in their 20s to 50s, the Neo-Snack offers a comforting space without demanding social intensity—a kind of urban oasis where loneliness quietly fades. 📍 The first location, Showa Club, is currently under construction in Kanda. It will operate by invitation only, creating the feel of a secret hideaway. With red velour Showa-era interiors, modern art, retro pop music, and karaoke, it’s a multi-sensory space built around nostalgia and comfort. 🍶 The concept updates traditional snack culture by introducing ideas like male staff at the counter to welcome solo female visitors and reviving the bottle-keep tradition for a personalized experience. The vision? To package this cultural experience for future expansion across Asia using a mall-style business model. It’s a journey to create a personal sanctuary in the city, a place to return to—physically and emotionally.