"Why did I open this place? Because there's no other department store in the world where you can smoke a cigar and drink single malt. Isetan Men's is the only place in the world where you can. It takes courage to try something new."
In a corner of the 8th floor of the Shinjuku Isetan Men's Building, there's a bar where you can enjoy single malt whiskey and cigars. Produced by writer Katsuhiko Shimaji, it opened on September 12th of last year. A lover of single malt, cigars, and pipes, Shimaji originally had his own bar and workspace, the Salon de Shimaji Main Branch, in Hiroo, Tokyo, where he would invite close friends and guests for whiskey. One day, Isetan Mitsukoshi President Onishi visited and they hit it off. Shimaji proposed a store design modeled after his experience, which led to the creation of this space.
"Can you drink?" Shimaji begins the interview by offering the reporter a highball. Though it's whiskey, it's refreshing and easy to drink. A subtle peppery kick lingers on the tongue.
"Isn't that right? Some people are addicted to the taste and come back regularly. This place is truly my salon. It's ideal for about six people, but we can fit a maximum of 12, so we always fill it up and it's always packed to capacity."
He spends his weekdays writing, and on weekends he transforms into a "barman" (the British term for a bartender). He makes and serves drinks like a "spicy highball," made with Scottish single malt whiskey "Talisker 10 Year Old" sprinkled with pepper, and "Mother Single Malt," mixed with locally sourced "Sveyside Glenlivet Water."
"I'm exhausted writing manuscripts during the week, but on weekends I'm on my feet here from 1pm to 8pm. Do I work non-stop? Yes, I am, even though I'm 72 years old now."
Shimaji was editor-in-chief of Shueisha's Weekly Playboy in the 1980s and is known as a renowned editor who built the magazine's golden age of selling one million copies. He currently writes essays and other publications. "When I was a university student, I had trouble getting up in the morning, so I thought I'd become an editor or a bartender," he says.
Shimaji is close friends with many famous people, and the walls of Salon de Shimaji are decorated with calligraphy, speeches, and paintings by Shibata Renzaburo, Kon Toko, Kaiko Takeshi, Yokoo Tadanori, and others.
"You see, there's something like this, right? And that's what makes good 'ki' well up. My presence there amplifies that ki even more. That's why customers come. Many people come here and receive good luck and their fortunes improve. That's why this is a new power spot, for me too."
Regular customers who are fans, and people who have heard about it in the newspapers or on the radio, flock here from all over the country, both men and women.
"Everyone who comes leaves with a cheerful look on their face. I'm inspired here too. Initially, I was supposed to write here, but it would be impossible for me to do that."
In the second part, we'll report on the shop, which is filled with products that are a concentrated expression of Mr.
