Opened in early 2020 (right before the long COVID shut down in Japan) Crescent is a spot that could be the most pure example of what makes jazz kissa unique. Though only five years old, it feels lived in, classic and in a way, timeless.
Owner Taguchi-san is mellow and friendly (wearing surfer shorts and an Hawaiian shirt when I visited in May). He keeps things simple in the shop with only ten total seats, coffee at ¥500 and some alcohol on the menu. The entire left-side wall, floor to ceiling, is vinyl. It’s an awesome collection, visually intense in such a small place. There are a lot of the usual jazz kissa ‘regulars’ in the collection (Blue Note, Impulse, etc), but he also has a large cabinet in the back full of more contemporary jazz releases on CD. The plenty posters and flyers around the joint for recent gigs also shows he’s still locked in to the current jazz world in Japan and overseas.
The sound is great, the volume just about perfect so you can still converse if you want. When I was there two regulars were at the counter having a nice chat with Taguchi-san while the music played. They gave us a smile but otherwise got back to their chat, unbothered at the two new customers asking lots of questions and taking pictures.
Crescent’s opening hours are a bit inconsistent, and there is no web site so you’ll need to call or check his personal FBook page for announcements. It’s a. bit of a trek to reach Crescent but it is well worth the time; this is one of the best jazz kissa in Tokyo.
Meg is a small cafe/club in Kichijoji, western Tokyo that is a vibrant part of the local scene. There’s live music almost every night of the week, plus jazz album/cd trading sessions, vocalist jam session nights, and workshops given by owner Terashima Yasukuni. Terashima-san has written several books on jazz in Japan, which you can buy at Meg. He also puts out a yearly compilation CD “YT Presents Jazz Bar…” which is worth a listen.
What you notice immediately when going into Meg are the huge red speakers that dominate the back wall. I’m not an audiophile, so have no idea if the shape makes any difference or is just for style, but the sound in Meg is awesome. You rarely hear such crisp, clean sound like this anywhere in Tokyo.
Meg is a classic jazz kissaten in a great area for music wandering. I highly recommend spending an hour or two there some afternoon before exploring the Kichijoji nightlife. Photos of Meg are over at Tokyo Jazz Joints.