Japanese Sake : All Japan News,Inc

By Ryuji Takahashi

Between Shinjuku district and Hatsudai district is an area traditionally called the Jyunisou district on the west side of Shinjuku Central Park, a red-light district since the Meiji Era (1868-1912). Now a business district consisting of apartments and office buildings, the area is frequented by businessmen during the day. At night however, chic restaurants in the district illuminate the nightscape. One such restaurant is “Takuan Botantei” celebrating 23 years in business, where I attended the Beaujolais Nouveau release party.

Restaurant Takuan Botantei serves “Misogyu- nabe,” their specialty beef and miso hot pot that evolved into sukiyaki today. Other menu selections include premium Japanese wagyu steak, sukiyaki, wine and sake. The attractive proprietress dressed in a traditional Japanese kimono runs the restaurant. The dining area consists of modern and elegant table seats reminiscent of the Taisho Era (1912-1926) and a traditional Japanese room with tatami (straw) floors, decorated with an original print by Japanese woodblock print artist Shiko Munakata, reminiscent of the nightlife in Jyunisou when the district was bustling.
I was led to the traditional Japanese tatami room and told bottomless beer, highball, and wine were on the menu. I started with beer, then ordered Beaujolais Nouveau. I passed on the course menu this year as a precaution against the coronavirus infection and ordered a meal in a 2-tiered wooden box instead, followed by a tasteful appetizer, beef stew, and wine. As I started to get tipsy, the proprietress came and greeted me. The kappore started next, a traditional Japanese comic dance performed to folk songs and pop songs popular at the time, also performed by geishas in the past.
I excitedly took in the kappore dance typical in the Jyunisou district, followed by an authentic flamenco performance. Instantly, two musicians and two flamenco dancers transformed the ambiance from the Jyunisou district to Spain. Customers joined in on the lively dance performance known as “rienda,” which I thoroughly enjoyed.
The term ‘rienda’ is derived from the Spanish word ‘riendasueruta,’ meaning “to draw out one’s charm at will.” As I sipped Beaujolais Nouveau basking in the afterglow of the passionate flamenco performance on stage, the guitarist from the flamenco performance joined the proprietress playing the shamisen (a traditional Japanese three-stringed lute) and started the memorial performance to honor the late Japanese rock musician Kiyoshiro Imawano. Customers were handed song lyrics cards to sing along to the performance that gradually reached a crescendo. The audience seemed to blow off all their stresses accumulated since the coronavirus pandemic, a very liberating moment.
The restaurant with stylish décor, enjoyable performances, delicious cuisine and wine is not a place young customers can walk into casually. Restaurant Takuan Botantei survived 23 years in the competitive Nishi-Shinjuku district, where refined etiquette and discretionary funds are required of customers to dine in the skyscraper district, thanks to the hospitable service and tireless efforts by the proprietress to keep guests entertained in my opinion. I thoroughly enjoyed my night of time travel to the Jyunisou district.


東京地酒散歩（西新宿か十二社か）　

　新宿と初台の間、新宿中央公園の西側は昔、十二社と呼ばれる地域で、明治時代以降花街だった場所である。今はマンションとオフィスビルしかなく昼間はサラリーマンが行きかう場所でその面影は皆無であるが、夜になるとちょっと変わった粋な飲食店が数軒明かりを灯す。その中の老舗の1軒「たくあん・牡丹亭」の２３周年祝いとボジョレーヌーボー解禁パーティーに行ってきた。このたくあん・牡丹亭は味噌牛鍋という現在のすき焼きの原点ともいえる鍋がこだわりで、その他にも極上和牛のすき焼きやステーキなどをワインや日本酒で楽しむ着物姿のカッコ良い女将が切り盛りする店である。店内も大正ロマンあふれるテーブル席や棟方志功の肉筆画が飾ってある座敷席など活気のあった頃の十二社の遊び場を想像させる造りとなっている。今回は座敷席に案内され、ビール・ハイボール・ワインは飲み放題との事だったので、ビールで喉を潤し、早速ボジョレーヌーボーを頂く。料理はコロナ感染対策として今年はコースではなく2段の折詰めで、気の利いたつまみとビーフシチューでワインを楽しんだ。ほろ酔いくらいで女将の挨拶と「かっぽれ」が始まった。かっぽれとは俗謡や俗曲に合わせて踊る踊りで昔は芸妓なども踊っていたらしい。この十二社らしい演出をワクワクしながら楽しんでいると、次はなんと本格的なフラメンコが始まった。2名の演奏者と2名のフラメンコダンサーで雰囲気は一気に十二社からスペインに飛んで行った。お客さんも巻き込んでのダンスタイムに雪崩込み、大盛り上がりで震撼絶頂の瞬間が訪れた。これをスペインでは「ルエンダの時」と言うらしい。情熱のステージの余韻に浸りながらボジョレーを飲んでいると、今度はフラメンコの時のギタリストと女将の三味線の伴奏による忌野清志郎追悼セッションが始まった。お客様が歌詞カードを渡され歌える曲を歌い、店全体でどんどん盛り上がりボルテージが上がっていく様子は、コロナ禍での制限で溜まっていたストレスを皆で吹き飛ばす感じであり、非常に心地の良い瞬間であった。とにかくカッコ良い店内、楽しい演出、美味い料理に美味しいワイン、決して若者が気軽に訪れる店ではなく、大人としてのマナーと余裕が無いと来ることが出来ない一流の店を西新宿という場所で２３年続けて来られたのは、女将のおもてなしの心とお客様を飽きさせない頑張りがあったからだろうと思う。まさに十二社の景色がタイムスリップして見えた夜となった。