difference-between-old-kissaten-and-new-cafe Kissaten and Cafes

Kissaten and Cafes

What is the Difference Between an Old Kissaten and a New Cafe?

About this topic

Questioning the difference between old kissaten (pure kissaten) and new cafes is not just about appearance or menu differences, but reexamining the essential change in the 'comfort' demanded by the times. Showa-era pure kissaten is a 'cocoon of non-everyday' symbolized by cigarette smoke, jazz BGM, thick curtains, and heavy furniture, while modern cafes are 'productive third places' symbolized by bright lighting, Wi-Fi, and minimalist interiors. This question considers how space shapes people's time and emotions from a historical and cultural perspective.

Conceptual positions
01 Nostalgia View

Old kissaten embody the 'leisurely time' of a lost era. What modern people seek is not efficiency but a return to the 'idle time' of the past.

02 Functionalism View

New cafes provide 'productive spaces' suited to modern lifestyles. Wi-Fi, power outlets, and bright lighting are evolutionary forms that respond to the needs of working people.

03 Cultural Transformation View

The transition from kissaten to cafe reflects changes in the 'boundary between public and private' in Japanese society. The fusion of private time and public time has created new spaces.

04 Sensory Experience View

Old kissaten are spaces that 'satisfy the five senses' (smell, sound, touch), while new cafes emphasize 'vision and function'. Both are forms of sensory experience demanded by the times.

Talk entry points

  1. What impressions did you get from the old kissaten and the new cafe you recently entered?

  2. Which calms your mind more: the 'heavy atmosphere' of a pure kissaten or the 'light atmosphere' of a cafe? Why?

  3. Why is the sense of 'time travel' felt in an old kissaten so special?

  4. What is the difference in your actions and thinking when spending long hours in a modern cafe versus an old kissaten?

  5. If all old kissaten disappeared, what loss do you think you would feel? Conversely, if new cafes disappeared?

  6. If you had to express the difference between 'pure kissaten' and 'cafe' in one word, what would you say?

Conceptual tensions
Nostalgia vsEvolution
The feeling of nostalgia for old kissaten is strong, but the convenience of new cafes suited to modern life cannot be denied. One wavers between longing for the past and adapting to the future.
Non-everyday vsEveryday
Old kissaten provide 'special time' separated from everyday life, while new cafes provide 'usual place' as an extension of everyday life. Which is the true 'place to be'?
Richness of Sensation vsEfficiency of Function
Old kissaten provide rich experiences that stimulate the five senses, while new cafes provide functions to efficiently advance tasks. Which 'richness' to prioritize?
Individual vsSociety
Old kissaten are spaces that allow individual introspection and solitude, while new cafes are spaces that encourage social connections and collaboration. The change in the balance of 'individual' and 'society' demanded by the times.
Talk note

This theme is for considering the relationship between era and space. Whether you miss old kissaten or love new cafes, it is a time to talk about the state of 'time' in the modern era while sharing each person's sense of 'comfort'.

Glossary
Pure Kissaten
Traditional kissaten popular in the Showa era, serving coffee and light meals. Jazz or classical music plays, creating a calm atmosphere where the culture of long stays is rooted.
Specialty Coffee
High-quality coffee with attention to origin, variety, and roasting. A symbol of modern cafes, emphasizing diversity of taste and storytelling.
Showa Retro
Design and culture that recreates the style and atmosphere of the Showa era. Evokes nostalgia and is central to the charm of old kissaten.
Minimalism
Simple design with unnecessary decorations removed. A feature of modern cafes, creating clean, functional spaces suitable for concentration and work.
Comfort / At Ease
The sense of being physically and psychologically at ease. In old kissaten, it appears as 'warmth that envelops', in new cafes as 'openness to spend freely'.
Time Consumption vs. Time Production
In old kissaten, time is 'consumed' (spent doing nothing), while in new cafes, time is 'produced' (work or study is done).
Talk prompts
Ice breaker

Of all the kissaten or cafes you've visited so far, is the one that left the strongest impression an old type or a new type? Why is that store unforgettable?

Deep dive

Please tell me specifically how your 'sense of time' differs when you enter an old kissaten versus when you enter a new cafe.

Bridge

While listening to the type of 'favorite store' the other person talks about, imagine: 'If I started visiting that store regularly, how would I change?'

Further questions
  • Which symbolizes 'that era' more: the cigarette smoke of pure kissaten or the coffee aroma of cafes?
  • The difference in psychological effects between the 'heaviness' felt in old kissaten and the 'lightness' felt in new cafes
  • What influence does Showa kissaten culture have on modern youth?
  • The contrast between cafes' 'Instagrammable' quality and pure kissaten's 'beauty that doesn't remain in photos'
  • The true nature of the 'secret base' charm that old kissaten possess
  • The value of the 'long-stay culture' that is being lost as new cafes increase