After working in Fukuromachi for many years, Hashimoto-san or “Master Hashimoto” opened this bar in 2001 using his own nickname, “leader.” Before its 20th anniversary, the bar moved to the current location with a newly introduced golf simulator to offer something more fun for his customers. His goal is to provide “a reasonably-priced bar where people feel welcome to drop in anytime.” There’s also a well-equipped karaoke system to entertain a diversity of customers of all ages including drinkers and non-drinkers alike.

He enjoys conversation with customers form all different places and backgrounds, and loves talking with people in general as he himself is friendly and sociable. He also keeps the bar open when most others are closed during the Obon week (mid Aug) and New Year’s holidays. Snowboarding and fishing are some of his free time activities, and he also helps out on his family’s rice farm.

He remarked on the charm Fukuromachi, noting, “it’s nice to visit both during the day and at night.” Walking under the cherry blossoms along the Seri River near the district is very nice. He hopes to keep running the bar under the same name for 20 more years. He believes that to do so, it’s important to make the area clean and bright, to improve the overall image of Fukuromachi and bring back more of the vibrant energy that the district once had in the past.