After attending the ‘Annual Meeting of Shinshu Lovers’—our group’s first gathering since the COVID pandemic suspended our meetings—I made my way to the iconic Jazz Cafe ‘EONTA,’ a place I hadn’t visited in years yet found still unchanged. This is my nighttime report from a wander through Matsumoto, the second-largest city in Nagano (Shinshu), in November 2024.
- It Remains Intact! The Entrance Beckoning Us
- Were These Stairs Always Like This? Looking Up, Feeling as Though Someone Awaits Upstairs
- What? Doodles? It’s Just as It Was Back Then
- Even If It Hasn’t Changed, Is the Door New?
- It Was! This Space, This Atmosphere!
- Soft Drinks or Cocktails? The Usual Devil’s Whisper!
- Someone Stop Me! (The Drunkard’s Cliché)
- Offering Great Gratitude to the Guardian God of the Unchanging World!
- Watch Your Step! Heading Downstairs
It Remains Intact! The Entrance Beckoning Us
After enjoying a drink for the first time in a long while—momentarily forgetting my age and usual health-conscious mindset—I found myself drawn to this familiar entrance, as if transported back to my days as a student half a century ago.
Were These Stairs Always Like This? Looking Up, Feeling as Though Someone Awaits Upstairs
I mentioned earlier that it’s still the same scenery, but at the same time I wondered, “Is this stairs how it’s supposed to be?” Out of blue, I became a little nervous as if it was my first time to go up this stairs, since I probably climbed in my school days with a lot of friends and excitement.
I mentioned earlier that the scenery remains unchanged, yet I couldn’t help but wonder, “Were these stairs always like this?” Out of nowhere, a faint nervousness crept in, as if it were my first time climbing them. Perhaps it’s because, during my school days, I ascended these steps surrounded by friends and filled with excitement.
What? Doodles? It’s Just as It Was Back Then
It seems impossible, but I was struck by a strange sense of nostalgia, as if time had stood still here. It also reminded me that even today’s digital generation of young people still doodle—and that some things never change, especially when they’ve had a bit too much to drink.
Even If It Hasn’t Changed, Is the Door New?
I have absolutely no memory of the door’s design, but honestly, it doesn’t matter whether the door is new or old. It feels like the moment I open it, my friends from half a century ago will be sitting there, hanging out as if no time has passed.
It Was! This Space, This Atmosphere!
Back then, many students dreamed of spending their lives surrounded by their favorite music, coffee, and alcohol. Looking back, it might have been a kind of pre-social withdrawal. Yet, even after half a century, this cozy space remains as captivating as ever. I found myself drawn to it, wanting to linger a little longer.
Soft Drinks or Cocktails? The Usual Devil’s Whisper!
I should’ve opted for a soft drink (for health reasons), but, as usual, I made my excuse and decided not to care—even if it meant going down in flames—and ordered a salty dog (which I learned to love back in my student days). I couldn’t help but realize that my thinking hasn’t changed a bit in the half-century since.
Someone Stop Me! (The Drunkard’s Cliché)
Since arriving in Matsumoto the day before, I had already visited several places and had quite a few drinks, yet I found myself surprisingly energetic. It felt as if God were telling me this was the last time I could drink as much as I wanted, so I went for just one more.
Offering Great Gratitude to the Guardian God of the Unchanging World!
Inside the coffee shop, foreign visitors—couples and young, brooding individuals who looked like they were from the U.K.—were quietly enjoying their drinks, records, and the atmosphere, comfortably intoxicated by the experience.
Watch Your Step! Heading Downstairs
I carefully walked down the stairs, making sure not to inconvenience the shop. “Where shall I go next?” I thought, hearing the inner voice asking, “Are you still going to drink?” It’s not just the coffee shop that has remained unchanged for half a century—it’s also the drunkards like me, returning here. (Perhaps it’s just an excuse I’m telling myself.) The customers who return here are also the same as before.
💛Thank you for reading to the end. If you’re traveling to Matsumoto and feeling lonely at night, we highly recommend EONTA, located at 4-9-7 Ote, Matsumoto City! (Faculty of Humanities: Enrolled in 1975: R )
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