Did they even serve "roasted sweet potato coffee" during the war? The truth about jazz cafes

Immerse yourself in jazz tonight
File.1 What kind of shop is "Chigusa"?
(Mayuko Niimura/Jazz Cafe Chigusa)

"Chigusa" is a long-established jazz cafe in Noge, Yokohama. I think many people have the impression that it is intimidating and difficult to enter.
But jazz is kind of cool, isn't it? For those of you who feel that way, here is a message from the Chigusa staff.

A coffee shop where you can listen to jazz records...a so-called jazz coffee shop, in most cases, is one in which the owner's tastes and preferences are fully reflected within the store.
The music was playing at high volume from the carefully selected audio system. The bartender and the customers had serious looks on their faces, their heads bowed, and listened to the music in silence...
The reason why many people say it's "difficult to enter" the store is probably because of this unique atmosphere.

Chigusa is a jazz cafe that was opened by Mamoru Yoshida in Noge, Yokohama in 1933. It is the oldest jazz cafe still in existence in Japan, but it was not originally considered a historical cultural asset.
When it first opened, it was popular with fashion-conscious young people as a place to listen to the latest music, and aspiring musicians also frequently visited. It was not an era like today where you can casually listen to your favorite music whenever and wherever you want, and there was no such environment, so it seems that these musicians simply immersed themselves in the music. Perhaps the unique atmosphere of being "difficult to enter" that continues to this day is a remnant (?) of that time...
At present, Chigusa does not have a "no talking allowed" policy during the daytime coffee time. However, everyone is considerate of other customers, so the environment remains one where you can concentrate and enjoy the sounds.

Coffee suits a jazz café. However, during the war, coffee was rationed. The shortage was made up by using roasted sweet potatoes, so the inside of the café smelled like roasted sweet potatoes. Incidentally, this "roasted sweet potato-flavored coffee" was made by Kimura Coffee in Fukutomi-cho, Yokohama...yes, it is the coffee that would later become KEY COFFEE.

Chigusa coffee still contains roasted sweet potatoes!?

But there is no need to worry. Currently, the coffee powder blended for Chigusa is carefully brewed using a siphon. It takes time, but I hope you will enjoy the music and time flowing from the jazz records along with the aroma of coffee filling the store.

Currently, Chigusa maintains the cafe style from the time of its founding, but also offers bar time after 6pm so that customers can enjoy records and jazz more casually.

Chatting is welcome!

With more staff in their 20s working at the bar, the bar has been able to learn many anecdotes from regulars and older customers. On the other hand, the number of younger customers has also increased, so the bar has become a place to exchange hot music information, not just about jazz, and enjoy conversation.

Currently, Chigusa does not have a strong owner who can be the core. Many staff members are involved in the operation, and while inheriting the jazz cafe culture, they spend their days trying to find new ways to disseminate jazz culture that are in line with the current times.
With just 500 yen for a cup of coffee and a little courage, why not step into a space where you can immerse yourself in music for as long as you like?