What does it truly take to build a business from the ground up? Join Takuji Kitagawa, a seasoned expert who successfully launched international brands in Japan, as he embarks on his most personal project yet.
Open Snack BAR in Tokyo is the official English-language companion to the Japanese YouTube series "Where's Takuji Now. " Using AI to translate and summarize his journey, this podcast is a real-time documentary tracking Takuji's progress.
#8 Finding Showa Club and a snack tasting from Ginza.
From Kanda Station North Exit, the video guides viewers past landmarks like Fujisoba, the Chiyoda Rubber red sign, and the Iron Smith sign, before arriving at the Takato Building. Guests ride a retro elevator and push through a hidden heavy door, adding to the club’s secret charm.
The second half features a Ginza snack review, ranking favorites into “first-string” and “second-string.” Top picks included Camembert cheese snacks, wasabi sesame, dry orange, and tiramisu chocolate, while others like Heart Pie Mini, scallop snacks, and Popple pasta were tasty but less impressive.
14 Aug 2025
#7 Defining a Good Experience
In this episode, Takuji Kitagawa and Hiroyuki Jinro explore the question: “What makes a good experience?”
Takuji shares his personal definition—the sharing of time and space with people who hold a common understanding or shared recognition. They bring this idea to life with examples ranging from music concerts and high-end restaurants to humble gyudon shops, illustrating how a truly good experience emerges when customer expectations align with what the provider delivers, all within a shared moment and setting.
The conversation also connects this concept to Takuji’s experience-based store, b8ta, where both customers and staff come together with the shared goal of discovering something new. They discuss why these human interactions are becoming more valuable in an AI-driven era, where efficiency dominates but empathy and shared moments remain irreplaceable.
This thinking also informs the design of the Neo Snack community at Showa Club, which aims to create memorable experiences by fostering shared time and space among diverse individuals. The episode closes with an invitation for listeners to reflect on their own recent “good experiences.”
6 Aug 2025
#6 Q&A: Building the Neo Showa Snack - Design, Challenges, and Global Ambitions
The debut Q&A covers Takuji & Jindo’s Neo Snack “Showa Club”: a nostalgic velvet-and-wood interior updated with cashless payments and male staff to welcome solo women.
Sourcing the signature “Showa red” fabric and rising build costs are the biggest hurdles, though construction is underway. Plans include a house “Showa Club” whisky sour, dream guests from Shoin Yoshida to Jony Ive, and outreach to tourists via TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and IG.
31 Jul 2025
#5 Showa Club: Neo-Snack Where Anyone Can Host
Showa Club is a members-only “neo-snack” opening in Kanda, Tokyo, where the Mama/Papa host changes daily—from startup CEOs, tea-ceremony masters or/and maybe you. Expect intimate cultural pop-ups, retro-game nights, and brand testbeds that turn every visit into a fresh community experience.
24 Jul 2025
#4 An Urban Oasis for the Modern Soul
In this episode, we dive into the concept of "Neo-Snack"—a reimagined version of Japan’s beloved snack bars, designed to serve as a stable place of belonging in the ever-changing urban landscape.
Targeting businesspeople in their 20s to 50s, the Neo-Snack offers a comforting space without demanding social intensity—a kind of urban oasis where loneliness quietly fades.
📍 The first location, Showa Club, is currently under construction in Kanda. It will operate by invitation only, creating the feel of a secret hideaway. With red velour Showa-era interiors, modern art, retro pop music, and karaoke, it’s a multi-sensory space built around nostalgia and comfort.
🍶 The concept updates traditional snack culture by introducing ideas like male staff at the counter to welcome solo female visitors and reviving the bottle-keep tradition for a personalized experience.
The vision? To package this cultural experience for future expansion across Asia using a mall-style business model. It’s a journey to create a personal sanctuary in the city, a place to return to—physically and emotionally.
17 Jul 2025
#3 The Art of Store Location: People Over Maps Part 2
Discover the strategy behind b8ta’s location choices and the birth of a new “neo-snack” bar concept. From its Silicon Valley roots, b8ta secured prime spots through strong partnerships—starting in Yurakucho near Ginza, then Shinjuku and Shibuya—before expanding to Osaka’s Hankyu Umeda and Koshigaya Lake Town for family appeal.
Now, Takuji and Jin take on a different challenge: creating an experience-driven cultural hub in the form of a modern snack bar. Instead of trendy Ebisu or Okushibu (Shibuya), they chose retro Kanda for its unique charm, overwhelming business demand, cultural crossroads (books in Jinbocho, music in Ochanomizu, tech in Akihabara), and unbeatable accessibility. Inspired by the local festival and community vibe, they’ve signed a lease just 40 seconds from Kanda Station. The journey begins!
10 Jul 2025
#2 The Art of Store Location: People Over Maps Part 1
"Location, Location, Location"
Choosing the right store location isn't just important; it's paramount for business success. The guiding principle is simple yet profound: "Don't look at the map, look at the people." This means a deep dive into understanding your target audience and your business's unique character, then meticulously finding an area that perfectly aligns with those core elements.
In this insightful episode, we go beyond conventional wisdom. Deep dive into the strategies discussed on the source YouTube channel, "Where's Takuji Now." (https://www.youtube.com/@takuji_san)
We specifically explore how these principles are being challenged and applied in Takuji's new and highly anticipated Snack Bar business, examining the real-world implications of these location theories. Discover how understanding a city's "character" and customer flow can truly make or break an enterprise, learning from both established giants like Apple and the innovative spirit of a new venture.
This episode is narrated by AI.
4 Jul 2025
#1 Why opening Snack Bar in Tokyo?
On his quest to build a business from Japan to the rest of Asia, Takuji Kitagawa considered many ideas—from an experiential matcha brand to a fintech platform. So why did he land on opening a "snack bar"?
In this episode, Takuji and Creative Director Jin dive deep into the thought process. Learn about the business ideas that didn't make the cut and the unique strengths of the humble snack bar: a place for accidental connection, a business model with low inventory risk, and a "huge, unexplored market" in the age of AI. This isn't just about drinks; it's about creating the future's "third place."
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