Bar Kisaragi, Kyoto: Pop diva Miyuki Nakajima fan hangout

Miyuki Nakajima (中島みゆき) is one of the most sold Japanese singer-songwriters of all time. Her energy is more Tracy Chapman than Taylor Swift, plus she is Asian like the rest of the Japanese people. Frankly, she is so influential that her song is in a Japanese music textbook. One must go through her as a Japanese, legitimately.

空と君のあいだに (Sora to kimi no aida ni) – 中島みゆき (Miyuki Nakajima).

Being legendary among nationwide Miyuki Nakajima fans is Bar Kisaragi (BAR きさらぎ) in Downtown Kyoto. It’s a cozy, hole-in-a-wall-ish downright local bar of the Miyuki Nakajima fans, by the Miyuki Nakajima fans, for the Miyuki Nakajima fans.

Bar Kisaragi’s door open ajar.

Says “Bar Kisaragi (BAR きさらぎ)”.

Entering Bar Kisaragi is the immersion in good memories of Miyuki Nakajima fans at the place.

Drinks are from 700 yen ($5.30). Snacks are from 300 yen ($2.30). No cover charge. No minimum drink. And it’s all-you-can-request-Miyuki Nakajima songs for free (they also have classics of a few other Japanese musicians which customers can request like In-N-Out Burger Secret Menu items. I requested “Julie” which means Kyoto-born superstar Kenji Sawada). Bar Kisaragi was inclusive. But primarily, it exists for openly Miyuki Nakajima fans, allies, and questioning individuals.

A handmade song list of Miyuki Nakajima made by one of Bar Kisaragi’s regulars.

Coming out of my musical orientation for Miyuki Nakajima took place here unsurprisingly. I sat next to a guy who knew how to find the title of her songs with any given slightest information such as melody, vibe, and when and where I had a contact visually/audibly with a song. The conversation with him was like having a free session with a shrink, which was not that bad. The next thing I knew, I ended up realizing that I actually liked Miyuki Nakajima. It was somehow spiritual and probably the only conversion therapy I feel ok to advocate.