Ningen Restaurant, a two-week limited restaurant created by the artist collective Chim↑Pom, will open from October 14th to 28th in the former Kabukicho Book Center Building in Shinjuku, Tokyo.
The Kabukicho Book Center Building, commonly known as the Kabukicho Book Center Building, is rented entirely by the Smappa! Group, whose chairman is Maki Tezuka, husband of Chim↑Pom Ellie. Located in the most seedy part of Kabukicho, the first floor houses Kabukicho Book Center, a bookstore staffed by hosts, and a cafe. This fall, the building was purchased by Shinjuku Soft, which operates Robot Restaurant and other establishments, and it has been decided that it will be demolished.

As a final approach/show to the building before it is demolished, Chim↑Pom, who have previously worked on projects set in Shinjuku's Kabukicho, will hold their third project, "Ningen Restaurant," in the building. The title is taken from "Ningen Restaurant," a new restaurant that Smappa! Group opened this year.


Spanning three floors, "Ningen Restaurant" has an atrium that spans the roof (third floor ceiling), the third floor (second floor ceiling), and the second floor (first floor ceiling). During the day, it becomes an open-air restaurant, and at night, it becomes a bar lit by the neon lights of Kabukicho. The restaurant offers a variety of exciting features, including a "Last Meal" menu, where death row inmates can choose their final meal before their execution. The menu is open to the public, and includes the "Inaoka Exhibition Koji," a Buddhist statue by Yasuyuki Nishio based on the Chim↑Pom Inaoka, who was emaciated in preparation for becoming a sokushinbutsu (self-mummified monk). There's also an exhibition by Hermann Nitsche, a living legend of the 1960s Vienna Actionists. During restaurant hours, the restaurant also hosts a permanent new performance by Yuka Seki, a performance artist who, at just 21 years old, has earned acclaim in Japan's young art scene. Other events include performances and live events by up-and-coming artists that strongly emphasize human existence, and themed one-night events. For information on performing artists and event schedules, please visit the restaurant's official website (http://chimpom.jp/ningen/).