Jazz Walk: Chojamachi's long-established jazz bar "FIRST"
The city of Yokohama is an essential part of any discussion of Japanese jazz. Numerous jazz festivals, such as the Asahi Jazz Festival and the Yokohama Honmoku Jazz Festival, are held here, and the Noge, Isezakicho, and Kannai areas are home to many spots where you can enjoy jazz.
In this series, we will introduce jazz spots within the prefecture so that even those who have never been to a jazz cafe or live house can easily enjoy jazz.
Past serial Jazz Walk: From "Jazz Cafe Chigusa" to "Jazz Museum Chigusa"
In this second installment of our series, we'll be introducing FIRST, a jazz bar in Chojamachi that has been supporting Yokohama jazz for over 50 years. It's a three-minute walk from Hinodecho Station on the Keikyu Line. Once you cross Choja Bridge and the Ooka River, you'll find yourself in a slightly different atmosphere than in front of the station. Entering an alleyway, the glowing white "JAZZ BAR - FIRST" sign emerges in the darkening streets. Next to the retro mint-green door are bottles of western liquor and posters with information about live shows.
FIRST, which was founded on July 21, 1968, is celebrating its 55th anniversary this year. Back then, it wasn't possible to listen to your favorite music as easily as with a smartphone like we can today. FIRST collected jazz records from overseas and became a place of relaxation for many people, especially students, as a place where you could listen to jazz. Even now, more than 50 years later, the store continues to be loved by its regular customers.
Upon opening the door, the sound of jazz reverberating throughout the store vibrates pleasantly through your body. The interior, which is the same yellow-green as the entrance, is divided into a chic counter seating area lit by blue lights and table seating with carved wooden tables and chairs. Right next to the entrance are musical instruments such as pianos and drums. There was no live music on the day I visited, so it seemed like the instruments were taking a rest.
To be honest, I was a little nervous when I opened the door. I love listening to jazz, but I'd hardly ever been to a jazz bar, so I felt that "Yokohama's long-established jazz bar" seemed intimidating. However, my nervousness gradually melted away as soon as I entered the bar. As mentioned above, the interior has a chic and calm atmosphere, but at the same time, it exudes a warm, homey feeling. The owners of "FIRST" are the husband and wife who exude that warmth. On the day, the owner guided me to a larger table so that I, who was carrying a lot of luggage, could sit comfortably, and the owner, Akira Yamazaki, welcomed me, enjoying conversation with customers at the counter.
When I arrived, the music playing ranged from Latin and modern jazz to well-known standards. I could enjoy a wide variety of jazz sounds. That's because behind the counter were rows of records, a testament to the store's history.
What's even more exciting is the extensive menu. Not only do they have a wide variety of drinks, but their food menu is also more extensive than most bars, and the food prepared by the owner is loved by many people for both its taste and volume.
As mentioned above, FIRST regularly hosts live music performances and jazz sessions. You can listen to a wide variety of musicians, from young performers to well-known names. Live performance information can also be found on the website , so if you want to listen to live music, we recommend checking the information before visiting.
It has the calmness of a long-established establishment and a warmth that allows you to relax and unwind. You can enjoy jazz to your heart's content while feeling the history of the establishment and the gentle atmosphere created by the husband and wife owners. We hope you will come and visit "FIRST," where you can enjoy jazz in a relaxed and relaxed atmosphere without any stress.
