Izakaya Mizuki (Fukuroi izakaya)

Mizuki is at the right hand side in the very back of Mikado-Yokocho (street), which is known as the deepest street in Fukuroi. There are tatami mats in Mizuki. Because about 10 people can sit there, some customers hold reunion parties at Mizuki. "Nobody is here because it's right before payday. Some of my friends had puzzled looking faces and said, 'What? Yokocho?' when I told them that I opened an izakaya on the yokocho. But they changed their mind and said, 'This is a good place' after they came here." When I ask the mama (female owner) if I can take some photos, she says, "The beer needs more foam on top," and starts to pour another glass. The dishes that everybody knows are on the menu. The appetizers are cabbage rolls. Then I have deep fried horse mackerel, edamame, agedashi-dofu (deep-fried tofu), and quail eggs in vegetable filled steak rolls. At an old yokocho, it is said that there are always new stores, because, interestingly, the people that close down their old stores bring in new ones who want to open stores there. There is nobody but us now. We drink and talk with the mama. She is drinking a cocktail called red eye. We have a lively conversation and it is really fun. The night has just started, and I want to order another dish.

It is hard to imagine from the exterior (well, excuse me), but the inside is roomy and cozy. This place leads me to get lost in conversation.