"Ripple" - Kyodo -
This is [APPLE TREE], where we introduce people and shops who share APPLEBUM's cultural values and have nurtured them with the same passion.
The second installment introduces "ripple," a music bar located in Kyodo, Setagaya Ward.
5 years in Komaba Todai-mae.
Then 12 years after relocating to Kyodo.
"ripple" is a music bar that has taken root in the community and naturally attracts music lovers.
The bar has a DJ booth, and for events and anniversary parties, a diverse range of customers gather, from neighbors to renowned music enthusiasts.
"Low threshold, deep meaning."
These words perfectly describe "music" itself here.
Their specialties are jerk chicken and homemade coffee shochu.
Both are exceptionally delicious.
The owner, Ryo, also continues his activities as a DJ, known as "DJ Sashimi Fresh," mainly in the Setagaya area.
APPLEBUM staff also occasionally have the opportunity to DJ at irregularly held parties, and it's a place we're always grateful for.
It's a place where the atmosphere of the town, the distance between people, and the music blend just right.
[What kind of customers do you usually have?]
Basically, we have a lot of customers who live near Kyodo and "love the town of Kyodo."
ripple's daily life is supported by local customers.
However, on party event days, the atmosphere changes completely.
The faces that gather, the sounds, and the atmosphere become a little "richer" than usual.
It's also characteristic that nearby shops and customers are friendly with each other.
"I can't make it to tomorrow's event, so drink this tequila with everyone!"
Someone brought tequila saying that, and then "they actually showed up" to the event the next day (lol).
This sense of closeness, this vibe, is what makes ripple unique.
[What kind of shopping street is Kyodo?]
It's very local.
It's a comfortable place to live, without the flashiness of the city center.
That local feel naturally matches ripple's atmosphere.
[Which neighboring shops are you close with?]
・ISLAND CAFE (Ripple's sister store, tacos are recommended!)
・YADOKARI
・Hassho
・Yakitori Dansu
Around ripple, there's a "neighborhood circle" where people naturally come and go.
Everyone is connected, and the map of Kyodo at night slowly comes to life.
[What culture has influenced you?]
The documentary film "Other Music."
It's a documentary about a record store in New York that I've actually visited. In the movie, there's a phrase, "a place for outsiders." I watched this movie about 10 years after starting my shop, and that phrase really resonated with me.
"The kind of person I want to be"
There are so many people like that in the world, and so many nearby.
That's what the movie made me realize.
Also, "Quintet" in Umegaoka.
It's a super important spot in my life. In fact, I stopped by Quintet today before opening my shop (lol).
I've been so stimulated and influenced by it that I might not have been able to do what I do now without Quintet.
[What are ripple's DJ events like?]
Since ripple is a "bar" and not a club, I think there's a unique DJ style and song selection that's specific to a bar.
If we're going to hold an event here, I hope it will be a "combination that can only happen here."
Of course, the usual parties with the usual crowd are good too.
But I believe that when a "never-before-seen combination" is created, it becomes a special night.
Even DJs who usually play in big venues have completely different song selections and atmospheres when they play here.
The more professional they are, the more they consider various factors such as the time of day and the mood of the customers present.
I'm truly grateful for that.
If you're even a little interested, I hope you'll come and visit the shop at least once.
[Are there any memorable DJs?]
There are many, but
DJ KENSEI
DJ WATARAI
DJ Minnesotah
I'd say these three.
(Just seeing their names, many people will likely envision their sound.)
[What kind of place is ripple?]
After all, I've fallen deeply in love with music, so I created this kind of shop, and I want it to be a "place" for someone who feels like an outsider.
I wanted it myself.
So I created it.
That simple motivation seems to be the core of ripple.
Another important principle is the spirit of "mutual help."
It's not just about "work"; "LIFE" and "WORK" are intertwined, and "work" and "play" are mixed.
So, in the end, it's all for myself, and when you delve into that "for myself," I realize it's for
"my friends"
"my comrades"
"my customers"
ripple is a bar for drinks, food, and music, but it's also a "gathering place" where you're sure to find someone there.
There's music beyond the glass, and friends beyond the music.
Such nights exist at ripple.
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Kyodo ripple
Address: 2F, 3-12-2 Miyasaka, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo
Access: 1 minute walk from Kyodo Station on the Odakyu Line
Closed: Irregular holidays (please check their social media for business hours, etc.)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ripple_kyodo/
X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/DJ_SashimiFresh
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