When the COVID-19 pandemic changed our daily lives, I thought our town had changed too.
But recently, I went back and read a blog post I had written eight years ago.
To my surprise, I realized that weekday evenings in Kokubu haven’t really changed at all.
Weekends are lively, while weekdays are much quieter.
I imagine it’s much the same in many towns across Japan.
People work hard during the week, so it’s only natural to look forward to Friday or Saturday night.
There’s nothing wrong with that.
Still, after spending more than ten years welcoming people into our little snack bar, I’ve come to believe that an ordinary weekday evening offers something weekends often cannot.
Some people enjoy busy streets and lively crowds.
Others prefer places where they can simply relax.
If you’re one of those people, a quiet weekday evening may feel surprisingly comfortable.
Of course, many people have work the next morning.
That usually means drinking a little less.
Perhaps that’s not a bad thing.
Sometimes it’s worth asking ourselves,
“Do I really need to drink that much?”
Many guests walk through our door thinking they’ll enjoy a few drinks.
Some say they’d like to sing karaoke.
But something interesting often happens.
The conversation becomes so enjoyable that they never sing a single song.
As they’re leaving, someone smiles and says,
“We talked all night.”
Those moments are some of my favorites.
Over the years, I’ve noticed another difference between weekends and weekdays.
Weekend nights are often a time for people to let everything out.
There’s nothing wrong with that.
We all need moments like that.
But alcohol can only help us forget our worries for a little while.
The things that made us feel that way are often still there the next day.
Perhaps that’s why some people wake up feeling a little empty.
Weekday evenings feel different.
Rather than escaping from life, people slowly reconnect with themselves.
Rather than trying to forget, they begin to sort through their thoughts.
Instead of releasing everything at once, their hearts become a little lighter.
It’s a quiet, gentle change.
At Chiduru, we don’t have any special secret.
We simply listen.
People talk about work.
Their families.
Old memories.
Travel.
Or sometimes, nothing important at all.
Little by little, their expressions soften.
When it’s time to go home, we often hear,
“That was a wonderful evening.”
Or, in our local dialect,
“Yoka ban ja.”
(It means, “It was a really good night.”)
Those simple words mean more to us than we can express.
We know that not everyone can visit on a weekday.
Life is busy, and weekends are often the only free time many people have.
We completely understand.
But if you ever have the chance, I hope you’ll experience a quiet weekday evening in Japan.
Not to drink more.
Not to sing more.
Simply to spend a little time talking.
Perhaps that is one of the quiet gifts a Japanese snack bar can offer.
Not excitement.
Not escape.
Just a place where your heart can quietly find its balance again.
If you ever find yourself in Kirishima, we’d be delighted to share a quiet evening with you.
Every place has its famous sightseeing spots.
But the memories we treasure are not always made in those places.
Sometimes, they’re made during an ordinary, quiet evening.
If you’re curious about experiencing the everyday life of Kagoshima, we’d be delighted to welcome you.
出張や観光で霧島に来られた方で、
静かに過ごせる場所を探している方は、こちらもご覧ください。
