This Week in Golden Gai

Looking across Golden Gai this week, every bar seemed to pour something of itself into that very first song. Music sets the air; drinks and food follow in its wake — and that nightly accumulation drifted through the whole neighbourhood.

BAR UISCE opened its Wednesday evening with Christian McBride Big Band's "The Good Feeling" (2011), featuring Steve Wilson. The choice of that album, in a bar devoted equally to whisky and jazz, speaks to a quiet but certain connoisseurship.

bar plastic model made the most noise of any bar this week. Thursday began with Shōjokai's "ZOO"; Saturday with ARCADIA's "Election Day"; Tuesday with the original soundtrack to *Super Robot Red Baron*; and Wednesday with PATROL SISTERS' "青空にTAKE OFF -きらきら輝くの〜-". Every night a different record landed on the turntable first, and every night the bar waited for guests with chāshū (braised pork), seasoned soft-boiled eggs, and a mini cold tororo-soba (chilled buckwheat noodles with grated mountain yam). The sheer range of those opening selections — skipping freely across eras and genres — is itself a portrait of the bar's character. Later in October, a joint live event with Ōfuna RE:ROOM is also in the works, stretching the bar's musical connections well beyond the street.

H.O.D, true to its punk-rock identity, kicked the weekend open with Dr. Feelgood's "She Does It Right". Everything the bar stands for is packed into that single choice.

At 瑠璃 (Ruri), the craft-beer taps were pouring "Tokyo White" and "JAPAN Ale Kaori". The straightforward enthusiasm for Tokyo White that comes through in the bar's posts is exactly the kind of warmth that makes Golden Gai feel approachable.

PIECE had the sake "Yukiotoko" (Yeti) in. On a long weekend night, whether you reach for something sparkling or something made from rice is entirely up to you.

KENZO'S BAR hung out its leopard-print sign and opened as usual — one of the street's most vivid presences.

あるぱか (Alpaca) opened its daytime session "Hiruppaka" this week, and with the film *Tsukikage no Golden Gai* entering its release period, the neighbourhood was alive at all hours. A stage-greeting event tied to the film is scheduled for Thursday, 15 October, a reminder that the street and the stories told about it are never far apart.

bar plastic model was the week's most active voice. Announcing the first record every single night, keeping the chāshū warm and the welcome ready — that steady rhythm captures something quietly beautiful about life in Golden Gai. Dropping by to find out what tonight's opening track will be seems reason enough to visit.