Maniana, a jazz cafe in Imabari: A store that tickles the fancy of enthusiasts and the master's thoughts passed down from generation to generation

Founded in 1963, the long-established jazz cafe "Maniana" has taken root in the city of Imabari. With a history of more than half a century, many "maniac" fans still gather in the special space where the founder, the master, weaves together the music.

A space that can be created by a U-shaped counter that "allows you to see all your customers

When you step into the restaurant, what catches your eye is the U-shaped counter. This unique layout reflects the wishes of the restaurant's founder, the master.

He said, "This narrow floor plan allows me to look out over all the customers. That's what makes this restaurant unique. Keiko, the wife of the current owner, says, "We dared to create a small space so that all the customers can see each other. He dared to create a narrow space and a counter where all customers can see each other, so that people can talk with each other even if they are new to each other.

In January 2019, the founder, Yoshihiro Kono, who had been running the restaurant for more than half a century, passed away at the age of 81, and Maniana decided to close the restaurant.

His wife Keiko, who had neither restaurant nor business experience, wondered, "Should I continue to run the restaurant as is? Should I give the restaurant to someone else? But she said, "We don't want the master to change the color of the restaurant. We don't want the master's color to change, and we don't want the atmosphere of this store to change," said a regular customer. In April of the same year, he reopened the restaurant.

Keiko says, "Our motto is that if customers from outside of the prefecture say they will come back, we will do our best until then.

Maniana's "geeky" space created by the master

One of the attractions of Maniana is its extensive record collection. Keiko says, "The master likes to support young people, and he used to give away records to young men who wanted to open a jazz cafe in the future. Many of the records are still in the store today.

Keiko says that she selects her own music, but "there are records that I haven't listened to yet," she says, adding that she makes new discoveries every day.

The ceiling is covered with a camouflage-patterned tent, and the speakers are handmade and installed facing downward. The attention to detail tickles the fancy of retro enthusiasts.

Keiko says, "With the recent Showa-era retro boom, many people, especially young women and people from outside the prefecture, come here because they like this kind of atmosphere. With the spread of the Internet, more and more young people and foreign tourists are coming to the store, and some female customers come in saying, "I found Ultraman! The ticklish sundries displayed in the store are also one of the attractions of Maniana.

A calming time with teppan yakisoba, the taste of the master, and after-meal coffee.

Maniana's menu includes coffee, mixed juice, milkshakes, and other drinks, as well as light meals such as yakisoba, yakiudon, and toast.

Recommended is the "Yakisoba" served on a teppan. The dish is filled with cabbage, bean sprouts, pork, and other ingredients, and the savory aroma of the sweet sauce whets the appetite. The flavor is also inherited from the recipe that the master used to make. "There is no special recipe for the yakisoba that the master makes, but it has a nostalgic taste," says Keiko.

After dinner, take a breather with a cup of coffee. The coffee blend selected by the master is characterized by its clean, easy-to-drink taste.

Keiko's thoughts: "I hope to be a place for everyone in the future.

Keiko said, "Master never discriminated against anyone, or rather, he was a person who truly cared about people. His smile cheered me up no matter how tired I was. Keiko says, "When I see his smile, it cheers me up no matter how tired I am.

Keiko, who has continued to run the restaurant following her master's wishes, strives to create a comfortable space for each and every customer.

She is told by those around her that she needs to make more efforts to increase the number of customers, but she also worries that she does not know how to promote her shop.

Still, Keiko says cheerfully, "I want to keep the store in such a way that people from outside of the prefecture will remember it again and drop by when they come back to Imabari.

Maniana has been in business for more than half a century and continues to evolve. Why not find your own "place" in this special space where jazz, coffee, and the warmth of human interaction are woven together?