Kuwabara Shoten, Selling Everything from Japanese Sake to Art
In Gotanda, a combination bar-and-liquor store infused with art, called Kuwabara Shoten has opened. The family representative, Kosuke Kuwabara, is also an active curator of contemporary art. He and his family, who originally managed a sake brewery, have transformed this location into a place where art can be enjoyed together with Japanese sake.
Kuwabara has been involved with numerous art festivals such as the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennial and the Setouchi Triennale. Building on these experiences, he has assembled delicious nuggets and art encountered in various places he has visited. Within this modest space, he not only offers about 20 different kinds of craft beer and over 150 types of Japanese sake, but also the very best processed goods such as juice, furikake (seasonings to sprinkle on rice), and canned goods from different regions. Intriguingly, photographs and paintings line the walls in an assuming way to sharing space with sake and bar snacks. Some belong to Kuwabara’s personal collection, but anything with a price tag can be purchased on the spot.
The snacks that can be savored in this bar-and-liquor store combo are made entirely of ingredients sourced in Japan, ranging from north to south. This includes Kaikyo Salmon from Tsugaru in the north, and toasted cheese with oil-packed sardines, using sardines from Kagoshima in the south. Of course, the staff will propose combinations for Japanese sake, and casual questions are always welcome here. It’s acceptable to get pleasantly tipsy at the bar, or to purchase sake and snacks for later. Perhaps you’ll even encounter some art that sways your heart.
Kuwabara Shoten
2-29-2 Nishi-Gotanda Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo
03-3491-4352
Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Closed: Sundays, holidays
to-plus.jpTRENDING
-
Recipe for Ichiraku Ramen from ‘Naruto’ by Danielle Baghernejad
Taken from the popular manga with the character of the same name who loves ramen, this dish is named after the hero's favourite restaurant.
-
Exploration of the Intimate in ‘The Sound of Water’ Available for Online Viewing
This film by J.B. Braud lays bare the deepest emotions, through the prism of betrayal, escape, and redemption.
-
The Tattoos that Marked the Criminals of the Edo Period
Traditional tattoos were strong signifiers; murderers had head tattoos, while theft might result in an arm tattoo.
-
Colour Photos of Yakuza Tattoos from the Meiji Period
19th-century photographs have captured the usually hidden tattoos that covered the bodies of the members of Japanese organised crime gangs.
-
Kungyokudo, Tokyo’s Chicest Incense
The oldest incense supplier in Japan, established in Kyoto in 1594, offers customers in Tokyo the chance to take away a scented sachet.