Well, I have found a place where I can hang out after work or on the weekends. It's called "Venus and Mars." I was walking home from the bus after work and I passed this curious little mall. I saw a sign that said "Venus and Mars - Music and Drinks." I thought it was kind of intriguing because it made we think of the song "Venus and Mars (Are Alright Tonight)" by Paul McCartney and Wings. So I walked up the stairs to this place and it is a little bar that is about as big as maybe 4 college dorm rooms put together. The "kitchen" area is about as big as a half-bathroom in a US house. And above the liquor bottles are all these classic rock albums from the 70s and 80s - Allman Brothers, Derek and the Dominoes, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Rod Stewart, etc. I was stunned! And right in the middle was the Wings album "Venus and Mars." Hmmm ... no coincidence, I guess.
So it turns out this place is owned by a guy named Kazuya Yamamoto and he is the same age as me. (Actually, I am 1 month older) Anyway, he can speak English really well and we grew up liking the same kind of music. I couldn't believe it. He bought the "V&M" album when he was 14. So, I had a couple beers and met one of the locals. I couldn't understand his name, but maybe he is a Japanese version of Arnold Peck, the Human Wreck. He is apparently recently divorced and his feelings about it are not too far from the surface, especially after a couple of drinks. I had what I would call an "approximate conversation" with this guy. He could speak a little English, a lot better than my Japanese. Really misses his kids. Like Judas Priest and Metallica. Likes to fish too. Had at least a dozen pictures on his cell phone of fish he caught. Ice fishing... what looks like a flounder he caught off of a local bridge. Cool! When I showed him a picture of Mary Ann and the kids, he went on and on about how beautiful she was and how lucky I was - wink, wink - nudge, nudge. Hmmm....
I went back to V&M last night because Kazuya told me they would be having a jazz band. No cover charge. I couldn't believe it, and he said "They're students! I don't have to pay them!" I asked if they were good and he assured me they were. They really were good. I couldn't quite imagine how this band was going to play in such a tiny bar, but it was OK. There was a small and polite audience, and it was cool. I hope they do this again. If I go again, I will have the fried octopus again - reminded me of the fried clams at Howard Johnson's.
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3 comments:
Mark,
There was a place in Yokosuka I used to frequent every time I was in Japan called "The Blue Note." Much like Venus & Mars, it was up a flight of stairs, had a total area of perhaps 1200 square feet, and the barkeep constantly played jazz music. All of their music was on literally hundreds of vinyl records.
I enjoyed reading your first two postings about your time in Japan. Please keep the blog updated, as I will be a frequent visitor!
And for the record, I found the Suntory photo using Google Images. Perhaps I should upload a Kirin beer image?
Paul
Hi Mark -
LOVED those fried clams at HJ! Sounds like a great place. Beer and music, don't know if it gets much better.
Deirdre
Dude, I didn't know you were going to be living/working in the J. Very cool. And this blog's very cool, as well. Keep on!
I have a good friend in Kobe; if you have plans to get down there, let me know. He'd be happy to show you around....
Tim
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