As foreigners, and especially as foreigners with an interest in ‘deep’ Japanese culture, we get cut a lotta slack. We get to go to some of the weirdest, localest little places you can imagine, and people are by and large nice. Or better. Now that I mention it, they’re usually welcoming, interested, and friendly. It’s sometimes hard to shut them up and get out the door.
That makes it all the more surprising and painful when they’re not. Kajima is a liquor shop that slaps boards on top of beer crates and converts to a standing bar at 6 PM. I’ve wanted to go here for months, but you have to arrive in a slippery 10-minute window. Otherwise it’s still closed or already full.
I was stoked (dude) that I hit the sweet spot tonight. Then the little master there looked at me like an alien and stammered…”Uhhhh, drink?” Why yes, bartender. “Hmmm, it’s a little full…[other than these 4 tables].”
But I assumed people would warm up and say hi. They look like folks. So I just stood there while he pottered around and set up a new table, away from the big boys who get their own can-chuhai from the fridge on the way in.
They didn’t warm up. One guy looked at me for a second, once.
I got to stand by myself and look out the window until I finished my beer and left without looking at anyone.
Needless to say, I’ll be back.
03-3666-5848
Hang in there. You'll thaw them out…they have no idea who they are dealing with.