‘Jewelry box’ Cafe Brings 1980s Sparkle to Tokyo; ‘Felt Like I was Transported Back to the Showa Era’

By Keito Uchiyama / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer

16:00 JST, August 13, 2024

A seven-minute walk north from Chitose-Karasuyama Station on the Keio Line brought me to a 1980s-style cafe in a residential area. The sign with a cute logo reminiscent of old girls’ manga and the white lace curtains hanging over the glass door give it an air of the Showa era (1926-1989). I was drawn in by the atmosphere of Kissa Housekibako.

After opening the glass door, I was struck by the record covers of Showa singers Kenji Sawada and Seiko Matsuda, miniature toys and fancy goods. Nostalgic items fill the shelves and walls, and as the cafe’s name suggests, it is as if I have entered a hosekibako, or jewelry box.

Opened in 2009, the small cafe has only six seats and is run by Naomi Kanai alone. “I’ve been collecting girly items from the 1970s and 1980s since I was a kid,” the 52-year-old owner said. “That era was full of cute things that were not too sophisticated.”

The store has got popular movie posters, manga, posed dolls in glass cases and photographic portraits of stars representing the era, such as Pink Lady and Candies. The tables are covered with red and white gingham tablecloths, and a retro beaded curtain hangs over the aisles.

Napolitan (ketchup-flavored) spaghetti is the cafe’s signature dish, made with simple ingredients, and they also serve soda floats that come in 10 flavors named after jewels such as aquamarine or emerald.

A pair of women were seen looking around the interior, saying “kawaii” (cute) and taking photos of the character merchandise and soda floats they ordered. These days, foreign tourists also come to the cafe, Kanai said.

Kanai chooses the songs played in the cafe. That day, I ate the Napolitan spaghetti and a cream float while listening to “Kaito Ruby” sung by 1980s idol Kyoko Koizumi, and felt like I was transported back to the Showa era.

***

Kissa Housekibako

Address: 102 Koyama Mansion, 4-18-18, Minami-Karasuyama, Setagaya Ward, Tokyo

Access: 7-minute walk from north exit of Chitose-Karasuyama Station

Hours: Noon to 5 p.m. Closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Memo: With a maximum capacity of six people, the cafe accepts groups of no more than two. Cash only.