A jazz stroll: "down beat" - a unique space where "loud music" and "immersion" coexist.

"The city of Yokohama is an indispensable presence when discussing Japanese jazz."
Yokohama hosts numerous jazz festivals, including the "Yokohama Jazz Promenade," the "Asahi Jazz Festival," and the "Yokohama Honmoku Jazz Festival," and boasts many jazz venues where you can enjoy live performances.
This series introduces the atmosphere and charm of jazz spots within the prefecture. Even if you're interested in jazz cafes and live music venues but feel they're "a bit intimidating," you might find a place you can easily visit!

Within Kanagawa Prefecture, the Noge, Isezakicho, and Kannai area is home to many long-established jazz cafes and live music venues. In this third installment of the series, we visited "Downbeat," a long-established club in Noge that has been in business for 68 years.

It's called "Downbeat," and it's located just off "Music Street."
Guided by a red, base-shaped sign, I climbed the stairs and found a door that looked like something straight out of a Showa-era coffee shop. Upon opening it and stepping inside, I was immediately enveloped in a wave of sound. In the dimly lit, orange-lit interior, rows of records lined the shelves, and shelves covered with various posters came into view. To the right were counter seats, and in the back left were sofa seats, with the ceiling on the sofa side covered in records, posters, and newspapers.

The presence of a group of foreigners made me feel for a moment like I wasn't in Japan. The large speaker in the back, along with the instrument-themed decorations and musician photos scattered throughout, made me realize that this was indeed a jazz café.

The café was founded in 1956, but eight years ago, the current owner, Shuhei Yoshihisa, took over from the previous owner. He started going there because a friend of his worked there part-time when he was a student, and that's when he went from listening only to rock music to becoming devoted to jazz.

In addition to the Alter A7 speakers that have been there since the shop's founding, a new JBL speaker chosen by Mr. Yoshihisa has been placed on a shelf on the counter side, allowing you to enjoy a lively sound experience (you might find yourself applauding at the end of each song).
They've successfully carried on the unique enjoyment of jazz cafes, where "listening to jazz at full volume is so pleasant."

The record collection numbers between 3,400 and 3,500 records, but even after inheriting the property, he diligently continues to acquire new records, conveying the appeal of new jazz, particularly the nu-jazz genre that has recently been attracting attention at the Grammy Awards. The selection of songs is based on Mr. Yoshihisa's "spontaneity," and 99% of them are instrumental pieces (instrumental music without vocals). Live performances are also held about once every three months.

When the place was founded, American soldiers used to play live music, and it's said that there are many foreign customers, but recently, there are also many tourists.

As a coffee shop, they are very particular about their coffee, using single-origin Brazilian beans, grinding them fresh for each cup, and carefully brewing it using a cloth filter and hand-drip method. Sitting at the counter, the aroma of coffee fills the air, creating a warm and comforting atmosphere.

Also, "Downbeat" has such a wide selection of alcoholic beverages that it could almost be called a bar, but apparently Mr. Yoshihisa can't drink a single drop of alcohol. He sometimes adds new drinks to the menu at the request of customers.

The food selection includes cakes that pair well with coffee (the "db Cheesecake" has an exquisite harmony of berries and chocolate!) and snacks that go well with alcohol (the "Naan Pizza" is a must-try).

While many customers drink alcohol in the evenings, it's about half and half during the day. There are also many regulars who come alone, and they don't say a word other than what they order, enjoying their time to the fullest before leaving. Apparently, there are many regulars who have been coming for years but whose names the owner doesn't know. "I'm not a very friendly person," Yoshihisa laughs, but I feel that this hands-off approach is what creates such an incredibly comfortable atmosphere.

The editor accompanying me said, "It's really loud, but you can really immerse yourself in your own world. I think I could concentrate and get a lot of work done here," to which the response was, "You're more than welcome." There are bookshelves on the counter and across from it, filled with a variety of books, including jazz-related and books about Noge. Reading amidst the loud music was quite a treat.

This is a place where both jazz lovers and jazz beginners can fully enjoy their own time.

down beat
Location: 1-43 Hanasaki-cho, Naka-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Opening hours: 4:00 PM - 11:30 PM. Closed on Mondays.

Read the series here >>
A Jazz Stroll: From "Jazz Cafe Chigusa" to "Jazz Museum Chigusa"
A jazz stroll: FIRST, a long-established jazz bar in Chojamachi.