A Jazz Stroll: From "Jazz Cafe Chigusa" to "Jazz Museum Chigusa"

The city of Yokohama is an indispensable part of any discussion of Japanese jazz.

Numerous jazz festivals are held in the area, including the "Yokohama Jazz Promenade," the "Asahi Jazz Festival," and the "Yokohama Honmoku Jazz Festival," and the Noge, Isezakicho, and Kannai areas are home to a concentration of jazz venues where you can enjoy live jazz performances. It is rare to find an area with so many jazz-related establishments anywhere in the world.

In this series, we will introduce some of the many jazz spots in the prefecture for those who have never visited a jazz café or live music venue. When you are in the area, please feel free to stop by and experience the history and sound of Japanese jazz.

In this first installment, we'll focus on "jazz cafes," a concept still fresh in our memories from their appearance in a morning television drama series. A "jazz cafe" is a uniquely Japanese cultural phenomenon, referring to a coffee shop where you can enjoy jazz records and, occasionally, live performances. While they might seem intimidating, how about thinking of them as "cafes where you can casually enjoy jazz"?

When talking about jazz cafes, one place that is indispensable is Yokohama Noge Jazz Cafe Chigusa .

Founded in 1933, Jazz Cafe Chigusa was opened in the early Showa period by Mamoru Yoshida, who was 20 years old at the time. Although it closed down once in 2007, thanks to the cooperation of many people who loved Chigusa, it reopened in Noge in 2012 and was cherished as "Japan's oldest jazz cafe."

The interior of the shop felt as if decades of time had been frozen in time. On the shelves at the back of the bar were more than 6,000 records, and a 50-year-old multi-amplifier system was installed. Listening to jazz records on Chigusa's audio system offered a luxurious experience that could not be found anywhere else.

Jazz Cafe Chigusa temporarily closed in April 2022 to be reborn as Jazz Museum CHIGUSA, and is currently operating at Green Spot in Minato Mirai as a temporary location until next year. Jazz Museum CHIGUSA is scheduled to open in 2023, the 90th anniversary of the company's founding, and will function as both a live music venue and a museum, carrying on the legacy of its founder, Mr. Yoshida.

The temporary store currently in operation recreates the sound of "Chigusa," and visitors can enjoy approximately 6,000 records from the collection, as well as exhibits on the history of "Chigusa." Workshops and other events are also planned for weekends. Even those unfamiliar with jazz can easily enjoy the space with a self-service coffee in hand, so please take this opportunity to visit.

The exhibition runs until February 28, 2023, and admission is free.

Additionally, the "Jazz Museum CHIGUSA" has launched the "Jazz Museum CHIGUSA Fund," which is seeking donations for rebuilding and contributions of historical jazz materials. There are also perks for donors, so please visit the website if you are interested.

Jazz Museum CHIGUSA (Scheduled to open in March 2023)
[ACCESS]
2-94 Nogemachi, Naka-ku, Yokohama City TEL: 045-315-2006
JR Negishi Line / Yokohama Municipal Subway
3-minute walk from Sakuragicho Station
8-minute walk from Keikyu Hinodecho Station

Jazz Museum CHIGUSA Temporary Store