photo credit: Robert Sanzalone
Nightlife is essentially about one thing; meeting people, alcohol and partying. Okay three things, but on any given night out those three things kind of mesh into one, so that’s what I meant.
Everyone in Japan knows, has heard of, or has woken up on the sidewalks of Roppongi, Tokyo’s notorious nightclub district known for all-night parties and over-zealous gaijin. If you’ve ever been there you know what I’m talking about. It isn’t uncommon to watch the sun come over the horizon while laying face up, or down, on the pavement, soaked in sweat, beer and bodily fluids, only to make a weekly oath that “..i’m never drinking again….” Yeah. Riiiight. Not until next weekend anyway, right? Who are you fooling? You love the nightlife, you love to party, on the dancefloor/ahhhhhhhhhh……….
Osaka has Shinsaibashi, Minami, America-Mura, and is known for it’s outgoing comedic personality, but what about Nagoya? You’ve never heard of Nagoya? It’s that city in between Osaka and Tokyo, and yes, it too has it’s fair share of nightspots and character, you won’t find many people waking up on Nagoya’s sidewalks, but we do get down here in Nagoya, just not as ostentatiously as our Tokyo and Osaka brethren…
Nagoya isn’t as cosmopolitan as Tokyo, nor as colourful as Osaka, but it does have it’s own personality, and this personality manifests in a pretty diverse and growing array of nightlife.
Recently in Nag, there has been an explosion of English style pubs and bars, seems like recently there’s a new one popping up almost weekly. These cozy spots give rest and rejuvenation to Nagoya’s growing population of foreigners looking for a lively atmosphere and a little conversation. Usually, there’s no cover or table charge, but there is a drink minimum, meaning you can’t just slide in and take up space chatting up the girls, you’ve got to at least be able to afford to plunk down the change for one drink, which is usually in the 300-600 yen price range, which isn’t bad at all. These spots also offer lots of seriously yummy foodstuffs, everything from little chicken balls, (I don’t really know what else to call them), to fish and chips, to french fries, salads and pasta, and more, all at very affordable prices.
Lately I find myself hanging out at one of two recently opened HUBs. The Hub is a franchise deal, I think I heard they’re all over the place here in Japan and elsewhere, I don’t know for sure. On any given night, it’s an easy spot to fall into, there are usually at least a few tables available, and they have sports or something like sports on the tv monitors scattered throughout the spot. I say “like” sports because the last few times I was there, they were showing an arm-wrestling championship, is that a sport? Two burly dudes in tight shirts sitting really close together holding hands and grunting and staring at each other? Maybe in Iceland, or Austria, I don’t know, no disrespect to either.
There’s also a newfangled electronic jukebox-style affair where you can choose songs if you fancy yourself a DJ, or ‘JJ’, (jukebox jockey) – but each song is 100 yen, which, even for a guy who loves music like myself, is a little out of my price range. If they were 25yen each, now that would be something. I remember once I played some old Journey tune, I think it was “Lovin’ Touchin’ Squeezin’” from the Steve Perry days. Love me some Journey, but at 100yen a pop, I’ll listen to my cds at the crib, thank you.
These English “pubs”, as they are called, are a fun, low-key, lively and casual atmosphere to meet and greet. Like I said, there’s no cover and if you’re not much of a drinker like me, you can always find someone to flap your chin with. There are always lots of people dying to practice their English, and here in Nagoya, people seem too laid-back, or just plain lazy, so there’s rarely any beef. Nice vibes, really.
Next time you find yourself in Nagoya, come on through the Hub, I’ll probably be there eating the peanuts, sipping a rum and coke and wondering outloud why they never put boxing on the tube.
myspace.com/trevordavidhouchen, youtube.com/maddlovelymusic...
