Tokyo Jazz Joints — Vanishing Cultural Heritage: A Journey Through Japan’s Jazz Kissaten

Explore the soulful world of Japan’s jazz kissaten, a uniquely Japanese cultural institution, through this evocative photo book by Northern Irish photographer Philip Arneill. Now finally available in its long-awaited Japanese edition, Tokyo Jazz Joints documents the disappearing landscape of jazz cafés and bars across the country.

The project began in Tokyo and expanded from Hokkaido to Okinawa, capturing beloved spaces such as BASIE (Iwate), jazz spot YAMATOYA (Kyoto), Eagle, Chokuritsuenjin (Tokyo), and Down Beat (Kanagawa). These intimate rooms, where jazz lovers gather to listen deeply, converse passionately, and uphold a culture that is distinctly Japanese, are photographed with sensitivity and reverence.

Background & Project Origins

Arnell first fell in love with Japanese jazz-kissa while living in Japan. In 2015, together with his friend and collaborator, American broadcaster James Catchpole, he launched a long-term project to archive these vanishing cultural gems. As time marches on and many of these cafés fade away, Arnell’s photos become both a tribute and a preservation of a deeply rooted cultural legacy.

Discover the full story behind the project at:
https://www.tokyojazzjoints.com/