Meikyoku Kissa Lion

Meikyoku Kissa Lion is a celebrated classical music café (meikyoku kissa) located in Dogenzaka, Shibuya, Tokyo. Founded in 1926 by Yanosuke Yamadera, a 24-year-old aspiring painter and son of an Aizu sake brewer, the café was conceived as a business he could run with his mother. Yamadera designed both the exterior and interior himself. The original shop, first opened near Namikibashi, sold Japanese sweets and initially played popular songs; the format shifted to classical music after a customer brought in a classical record. During World War II, when Western script was banned, the café operated under the name "Kurojishi" (Black Lion), and when military police visited, it avoided trouble by playing music from Germany, then an allied nation. The original building was destroyed in the 1945 Tokyo air raids, but was rebuilt in 1950 with the same design. In 1955, Muneo Ishihara, the younger brother-in-law of Yamadera, joined as the second-generation manager. After the war, obtaining records was difficult; some were bought in black markets or given by departing American occupation soldiers. The café also hosted notable guests, including Emperor Akihito (then a high school student), who requested Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto. Yanosuke Yamadera passed away in 1990 at age 91, and Muneo Ishihara passed away in 2007 at age 77. As of 2018, Keiko Ishihara, wife of the second-generation manager, serves as the third-generation owner. The café remains known for its hand-built human-powered elevator used to carry coffee to each floor, still in operation as of 2017. The menu features coffee made from three types of beans, prepared using a method learned by Yamadera's cousin at a "Lion Bakery" in London and followed ever since. The atmosphere has been described as a "Showa heritage" site, with a stately, nostalgic space designed by the founder. Regulars have included literary scholar Yuji Odajima, playwright Minoru Betsuyaku, actor Ken Mitsu, and musician Ezra Koenig. The café is located a five-minute walk from Shibuya Station's Hachiko Exit and is open from 13:00 to 20:00, closed only for summer and New Year holidays.

Meikyoku Kissa Lion was founded in 1926 by Yanosuke Yamadera, then 24 years old, the son of an Aizu sake brewer and an aspiring painter. He wanted to start a business he could run together with his mother. Yamadera personally designed the exterior and interior of the café. Before the war, the staff consisted only of women, some wearing kimono. The first shop was located in Namikibashi and sold Japanese sweets. Initially, popular songs were played, but the business model changed to playing classical music after a customer happened to bring in a classical record. During World War II, when Western script was prohibited, the café operated under the name "Kurojishi" (Black Lion). When military police came to inspect, the café played music from Germany, an allied nation, to avoid trouble. The original building was completely destroyed in the 1945 Tokyo air raids, but it was rebuilt in 1950 with the same design as before the fire. In 1955, Muneo Ishihara, the younger brother-in-law of Yamadera, joined as the second-generation manager at the age of 30. After the war, procuring records was difficult; some were purchased in black markets or obtained from American occupation soldiers returning home. However, because valuables such as sugar had been buried and preserved during the Pacific War, recovery was relatively quick. Emperor Akihito, then a high school student, visited the café and requested Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto. At one point, a branch store was also opened across the street. In 1990, the first-generation owner Yanosuke Yamadera passed away at the age of 91. In 2007, the second-generation owner Muneo Ishihara passed away at the age of 77. As of 2018, Keiko Ishihara, the wife of the second-generation owner, serves as the third-generation owner. As of 2017, a handmade human-powered elevator used to carry coffee to each floor was still in operation. The café continues to operate as a classical music café, with scheduled concerts at 15:00 and 19:00, and monthly programs listed in leaflets given to visitors, with cover art by the first-generation owner. Loud conversation and photography are prohibited.

• 2018

  Keiko Ishihara serves as third-generation owner.

• 2007

  Second-generation owner Muneo Ishihara passed away at age 77.

• 1990

  Founder Yanosuke Yamadera passed away at age 91.

• 1955

  Muneo Ishihara joined as second-generation manager.

• 1950

  Rebuilt with the same design as before the fire.

• 1945

  Original building destroyed in the Tokyo air raids.

• 1926

  Founded by Yanosuke Yamadera in Namikibashi, initially selling Japanese sweets and playing popular songs.

A historic, atmospheric classical music café offering a curated listening experience in Shibuya.

• Coffee

  Made from three types of beans, using a method learned by Yamadera's cousin at a London 'Lion Bakery'.

• Classical music listening

  Classical music played on request, with scheduled concerts at 15:00 and 19:00.

1. 1名曲喫茶ライオン official websitelion.main.jp
2. 2名曲喫茶ライオン - Wikipediaja.wikipedia.org
3. 3Meikyoku Kissa Lion - Wikidatawikidata.org