Coffeehouse Day (Kissaten no Hi)

What Is Coffeehouse Day?

Every year on April 13th is "Coffeehouse Day" (Kissaten no Hi). It marks the day in 1888 when "Kahiisakan" (可否茶館), generally considered Japan's first full-fledged coffeehouse, opened in Ueno, Tokyo (then Kami-Nishikuromon-cho, Shitaya Ward). This event is commemorated as the starting point of Japan's coffeehouse culture.

Japan's First Coffeehouse, Kahiisakan

Kahiisakan holds a key place in the history of coffeehouses in Japan.

• Opening date: April 13, 1888
• Location: Ueno, Tokyo (today around Ueno 1-chome, Taito City, where a monument marks the site)
• Founder: Tei Eikei, who had studied in the United States and is said to have wanted to bring the coffeehouse culture he saw there to Japan
• Inside the shop: According to its opening advertisements, it offered newspapers and magazines, playing cards, go and shogi, and even a writing room with paper and pens
• Menu: Coffee and black tea, as well as bread and sweets

At the time, coffee was not yet a common drink in Japan, and Kahiisakan also served as a place to introduce this new culture. In an era when the Rokumeikan was the fashionable salon of the upper class, Tei is said to have aimed for a salon for ordinary people and students. The business did not succeed, however, and the shop did not last long. The name also seems to have been read in several ways, such as "Kahiisakan," "Kahisakan," and "Kahichakan."

The Meaning of the Word "Kissa"

"Kissa" literally means "to drink tea," or more broadly, to enjoy a beverage. Over time, "kissaten" (coffeehouse) came to refer not just to a place to drink coffee, but to a space for spending time while enjoying a drink.

The Spread of Coffeehouse Culture

Japanese coffeehouses have changed in role and form over the years.

• Late Meiji to Taisho era: Establishments called "cafe" appeared and became gathering places for intellectuals and students, known as sites of literary and artistic discussion.
• Postwar period: Independently owned coffeehouses sprang up across the country, becoming community gathering spots rooted in local life.
• Diversification of offerings: Many coffeehouses came to offer not just coffee but light meals and sweets as well.

Interesting Facts About Coffeehouses

• The term "jun-kissa": "Jun-kissa" (literally "pure coffeehouse") has referred to coffeehouses that don't serve alcohol, as distinct from the "cafe" establishments that did.
• Emphasis on interior and atmosphere: Many coffeehouses have placed great importance on lighting, furniture, and music to create a particular ambiance.
• A place to linger: A defining feature of coffeehouses is that they were used not just for eating and drinking, but as places to "stay" for a while. Kahiisakan's newspapers and games can be seen as the origin of this.

Ideas for Spending Coffeehouse Day

• Look into the history of coffeehouses in Japan and learn about Kahiisakan.
• Discover the origins and characteristics of a long-established local coffeehouse.
• Reflect on how coffeehouse culture has been woven into people's daily lives.

A Day to Discover a Culture That Began with a Single Cup

April 13th's Coffeehouse Day is a chance to look back at the starting point of Japan's coffeehouse culture. Coffeehouses are such a familiar part of everyday scenery that we rarely think about how they came to be or how they spread -- learning the background behind them is a great opportunity to deepen your appreciation for these everyday spaces.