#28 Episode: "Cities - Tokyo Workshop" | 第28話「CITIES - 東京ワークショップ」

May 27, 2025

[Opening]

One of the great joys of living in Singapore is how incredibly easy and efficient the travel is. It feels truly effortless to simply hop on a plane. Just as the three of us at ybp conjured up all sorts of reasons to go on a "Hong Kong Workshop" last year, this time we found ourselves making a spontaneous trip to Tokyo. If I had to cherry-pick a few of our delightful excuses:

1. Clothes: All of us at ybp simply love clothes. We yearned to buy wonderful Japanese brand clothing, unbox them on the spot, wear them right away and feel the gentle breeze against us. We craved long pants and light jackets more than our usual Lululemon.

2. Food: We simply longed for some truly delicious Japanese cuisine. And, as is often the case,

3. Drinks: We wished to create a magnificent 'symposium' alongside good alcohol. A symposium in Tokyo—doesn't that just sound so much more romantic than one in Singapore? (If the concept of a symposium is new to you, please refer to [#27 A Symposium for Moderns])

This delightful, spontaneous 3-night, 4-day journey to Tokyo flew by in what felt like a mere 3.4 seconds, with us diligently hitting 15,000 steps a day and visiting at least three different bars or more every single night. But we weren't just playing around. We diligently refined the theme for our magazine's second issue, 'Cities,' and firmly resolved to continue running the magazine ybp until we are truly no longer "young". Amidst it all, there were also spontaneous sing-alongs to the Don Don Donki jingle and Fujii Kaze's "Shinunoga Ewa," as well as a surprise birthday present for Nam-san (ナムサン). And, most importantly, there was an abundance of 'joy'.

So, Tokyo Workshop, Ikuzo~

[Narration] (Murmuring, scattered conversations, and the gentle clinking of glasses | A natural wine bar in Tokyo)

"Cities, always holding something within them."

"Light and shadow, warmth and loneliness. And us, who live between them."

"Sometimes, it feels as if this city watches over us..."

"...and at other times, it's as if it turns its back without a word."

"This is a quiet story, felt by three editors as they navigate life in the city."

—『ybp magazine Vol. 2: Cities』,

[Characters]

Nam-san ナムサン (30 years old, male): A Tsundere. He grumbles and speaks gruffly, but he’s always the first to look out for others and gets flustered when his true feelings are exposed. His emotional outbursts are typically in the style of, “Hmph… I-I don’t care!”
Seol-san ソルサン (28 years old, female) A cool genius. Her words are almost devoid of emotion, yet the sharp precision at the end of her sentences suggests profound thought. She is expressionless, yet overwhelmingly persuasive.
Park-san パクサン (26 years old, female) A timid and delicate soul. Always cautious with her words and expressions. Yet, every word she speaks is imbued with genuine sincerity. She is the protagonist who has yet to realize her innate talent.

[Main dialogue]

Nam-san: Didn’t—didn’t we decide last time!? The theme for Volume 2… is ‘Cities’! It’s not like I insisted on it! …It’s just, you guys said you liked it, so… You-you idiots, honestly…

Seol-san: I remember. However, it’s not a bad idea to organize it again. Impulsive decisions often get overturned later, you know. When was that again… the discussion just flowed in that direction, didn’t it? Hmph… Sou iu koto da yo.

Park-san: Uh, um… back then, we were talking about how people our age live… While discussing that, it somehow shifted to talk about ‘spaces’… Was it… truly that natural…?

Nam-san: Hah… well, whatever! We don’t live in the countryside, do we! Since we live in the city, the conversation naturally flowed to ‘cities’! It’s a completely obvious progression! …Don’t pick on me, Seol-san! Tch… I’m really not a tsundere!

Seol-san: That judgment is valid. All the experiences we have in the city—living, moving, building relationships—they all become material. The urban setting isn’t just a simple background; it’s a structural element. Sou iu koto da yo.

Park-san: Yeah… especially for those of us living alone in the city without the fence of family… The atmosphere and… feelings that environment gives off feel much stronger… Being alone feels so big…

Nam-san: Eh, for example, right!? ‘Five family members living together in a cabin in Alaska’… if you hear that, it’s a warm and cozy image, isn’t it!? But if you say, ‘Nam-san, a thirty-two-year-old man living alone in a studio apartment in Alaska’… Ugh… doesn’t that sound really pathetic!?

Seol-san: An interesting point. But even without such examples, all nine articles written while preparing this second issue were related to cities. It wasn’t intended at all. Yuuen… arukamo shirenai.

Park-san: Yeah… in the end, when we talk about ‘our lives,’ it naturally leads to stories about cities… Because that’s where we ybps live…

Passerby Seaweed: Cats save the world!

[Scene Wrap-up] (Illuminating outside the Natural Wine Bar)

"To talk about cities is, ultimately, to talk about our lives. For ybps, pondering their next choices, 'where and what kind of experience we have' holds immense influence. Thus, in our second issue, cities, we aim to capture the holistic urban experience, encompassing everything from the small details of daily life, food, travel, human relationships, and life decisions..

Then, to be continued…"

[Bonus Scene: The First Element of Wine, Joy]

When you think of Tokyo, it’s easy to immediately imagine Namabeeru (生ビール, draft beer) or sake. However, it's also a city that boasts a diverse array of truly unique wine bars, even some that exclusively serve Jura wines. During this workshop, we were able to unbridle ourselves and visit some truly excellent wine bars. A good bottle of wine is, of course, unparalleled for spending quality time with loved ones, yet quite often, along with a hangover, lingering questions like "What was 'that wine' I had yesterday? What did it taste like? It was so delicious..." float around in my mind. They say the three major elements for judging the taste of a good wine are aroma, complexity, and finish. However, on this trip, we arbitrarily placed a fundamental first element above all three: "Joy!"

Regardless of aroma, complexity, or finish, here are three wine bars where we undoubtedly experienced joy.

Chiori : This wine bar was discovered during our walk to Arakicho, after having our senses truly awakened by the incredibly delicious beef tongue at Tanyaki Shinobu, a famous beef tongue restaurant tucked away in the back alleys of Yotsuya. Chiori's exterior exuded a cozy, European countryside charm, but upon opening the door, a small space, large enough for about ten to fifteen people, was filled with slightly warm air and lively chatter. The pleasant-looking owner, elegantly dressed in a tuxedo-like suit, apologized that there were no seats available but kindly offered to set up a table outside for us if that was acceptable. When we asked for wine recommendations, we learned it was a place that exclusively sold wines produced in New Zealand. We chose a wine that the owner's friend had produced. The owner expressed genuine surprise that we were Koreans living in Singapore, visiting Tokyo as tourists, and he even introduced us to some other Koreans living in Tokyo who happened to be in the shop. It turns out this particular alley is where locals, rather than tourists, typically come to wine bars after work. In the very middle of this charming alley, we joyfully shouted, "Cheers!" The name of this wine bar is 'Chiori,' named after taking one part of the owner couple's names. Later, I found out they bake their own yeast bread daily and offer a variety of New Zealand wines by the glass as well. If Shibuya Crossing offers the experience of a rapidly flowing city, Chiori offers a small, cozy space in a Tokyo back alley where time seems to stand still, accompanied by warmth and kindness.
Neo : This is a standing natural wine bar conveniently located in Shibuya. Upon sliding open the door, you step into a compact space with a slightly low ceiling. Four distinctively unique owners were bustling about, baking bread, cooking dishes, or attentively serving customers. At the back of the shop, there was a small but impressively ceiling-high wine cellar. You can savor various types of natural wine by the glass, and we were enthusiastically recommended a 'Funky Orange Natural Wine Bottle.' From the very first sip, our salivary glands were instantly stimulated by the vibrant taste. We paired it with both hot and cold dishes like grilled heart and green onion, and white ragu pasta, all of which were clearly prepared with thoughtful care. This place comes highly recommended when you're looking to experience a lively, bustling atmosphere in a youthful spot, along with a diverse range of natural wine flavors.
Aunt Mimi : This is a charming establishment near Meguro (Megro) Station where you can enjoy home-cooked meals alongside wine. It truly felt as if an auntie was cooking for us, with low chairs, adorable cat decorations, and neatly arranged yet mismatched tableware, evoking the comforting feeling of visiting a Japanese home, much like those seen in Midnight Diner or Kamome Diner. We ordered several small dishes—grilled onigiri, tamagoyaki (rolled omelet), fried oden, potato salad, and many others—and savored them with orange natural wine (again). The thoughtful kindness of serving dishes in order, from appetizer to main course, and even bringing a phone translator to confirm if we could eat cilantro, remains vividly in my memory. Their croquettes and home-style set meals, sold exclusively at lunchtime, are also quite famous. This place is warmly recommended for those who seek a warm and comforting meal in a homely atmosphere after tiring themselves out from passionate shopping in Ebisu or Nakameguro.