I remember an article by Otomo Yoshihide where he waxes lyrical about "Jazz Kissa", cafes where he could hear the full range of jazz whilst having a cuppa, during the 70s. As I recall, Haruki Murakami's main character in "Norwegian Wood" (Watanabe?) goes into one. So cafes - and damn fine sounding ones - did exist in Japan pre-Starbucks. Often thought I should start one over here... Alastair -----Original Message-----
From : Tosh <tosh3@earthlink.net> To : zorn-list@mailman.xmission.com Date : 09 July 2002 05:48:25 Subject : Starbucks Japanese culture First off, there were no Japanese coffee shops to be replaced (a really insignificant number) Coffee houses are a very new phenomena in Japan and what you are seeing is a springing up and not a supplantation. And unlike the Europeans who fight not to have malls erected in thier countries, the Japanese vehemently applaud the installation of the Kentucky-fried-Gap culture.
Actually I think coffee houses or cafes have been in Tokyo since the 1930's. On your statement that the Japanese applaud the Starbucks/Gap culture -perhaps you are correct. But it still makes me sad. -- Tosh Berman TamTam Books http://www.tamtambooks.com
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