I cast my vote with the "long history of coffee houses in Japan" folks. I spent a year there in 1981-82, going to college in Fukuoka. I often met friends at coffee houses, which all seemed to be independently owned and mostly owner-operated -- each with distinctive touches that made it unique, occasionally with hobbyist themes. Younger people, at least, seemed to meet more often at coffee shops (during the day, bars more at night) rather than at somebody's house. At the time, I assumed this tradition stemmed from the smallness of the domiciles. Martin