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's 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, the owner's tastes and preferences are fully reflected in the interior of the shop.
Loud music blared from the carefully selected audio system. Both the bartender and the customers looked serious, bowed their heads, and listened silently to the music...
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 opened by Mamoru Yoshida in Noge, Yokohama in 1933. It is said to be the oldest surviving jazz cafe 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 frequented it. It wasn't the kind of era where you can casually listen to your favorite music anytime, anywhere, and there was no such environment, so it seems that musicians simply immersed themselves in the music. Perhaps the unique atmosphere that makes it "difficult to enter" that continues to this day is a remnant(?) of that.
At present, Chigusa does not have a "no talking" 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 cafe well. However, during the war, coffee was rationed. Roasted sweet potatoes were used to make up for the shortage, and the cafe would smell like roasted sweet potatoes. Incidentally, this "roasted sweet potato-flavored coffee" was produced by Kimura Coffee in Fukutomi-cho, Yokohama...yes, the coffee that would later become KEY COFFEE.

Chigusa coffee still contains roasted sweet potatoes!?

But there's no need to worry. Currently, the coffee powder blended for Chigusa is carefully brewed using a siphon. It takes time, but we hope you will enjoy the music of the jazz records and the aroma of coffee that fills the store.

Currently, Chigusa maintains the cafe style it had when it first opened, 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 behind the counter, the bar has become a place to learn various anecdotes from regulars and older customers. At the same time, the number of younger customers is also increasing, so the bar has become a place to exchange information on hot music, not just jazz, and enjoy conversation.

Currently, Chigusa does not have a strong owner who can act as its core. Many staff members are involved in the operation, and they spend their days trying to pass on the jazz cafe culture while also trying to spread jazz culture in new ways that are in line with the current times.
Why not take a cup of coffee for 500 yen and muster up a little courage to step into a space where you can immerse yourself in music for as long as you like?