What is a Jazz Kissa?
Jazz kissa (Japanese: ジャズ喫茶), are cafés that specialize in Jazz listening, featuring a high quality stereo system.
We first became aware of them, visiting places that have tried to replicate them in Europe.
Then got inspired by the fine publication “A Gateway to Jazz Kissa”, issued by the japanese Katsumasa Kusunose, a great work documenting some of the 600 Kissa cafes currently surviving in Japan.

Why we do it?
Music is the most emotionally transformative element and we love it.
Jazz has been our favorite soul enhancement.

We are sound enthusiasts, exploring the ecology of sound.

We aim to experience the Jazz sound, combining music taste and sound quality.

Who we are?
Two Greek-Athenian guys Alexis and Thymios with an equal love for sound, music and its natural – live reproduction.
We love Jazz and we believe that connecting with the sound of Jazz under the right circumstances of taste, quality and conditions, suggests a new approach in engaging with music.

The Kissa idea
To combine art and engineering, simple and diy.
A turntable, vinyl records, small amplifiers, tubes and high sensitivity large speakers with horns.
A diy sound system aiming the live dynamic and natural sound that makes music the way it was meant to be heard.
The idea is to introduce Jazz fans to the Jazz Kissa culture through pop-up appearances at various locations as close to the original Kissa as it can be.

How we do it?
We explore the willingness of people who own particular spaces, where the whole concept of Jazz Kissa could work and attract people’s attention. Communication is the key.

The whole act transforms the place, to a Jazz Kissa, where the audio system sings in a live and persuasive way. Τhe way jazz records deserve to be heard.
Listening sessions focus on full album sides.
We create variable artists sessions or sessions dedicated to an artist.

“Listen loud, speak low”
A combination of good quality sound and music with taste, relaxing mood and freedom of music choices in order to educate and entertain our souls.

MORE INFO

TOKYO JAZZ JOINTS
Tokyojazzjoints.com

THE VINYL FACTORY
A visual chronicle of Tokyo’s disappearing jazz bars

INTERVIEW BBE LONDON
J Jazz – Deep Modern Jazz from Japan 1969-1984” album co-compiler Tony Higgins and Tokyo Jazz Joints photographer Philip Arneill talk about Japan’s fast-disappearing ‘jazz kissaten’ (jazz cafes).
video

JAPAN: Jazz oasis
video