Unwind with a classic pudding and aromatic coffee.
There is a lovely, century-old Western-style building cherished across generations in downtown Kumamoto.
At the Nagasaki Jiro Café, located on the second floor, you can enjoy popular retro sweets and the original blend.
For a beautiful memory of your trip to Kumamoto.
Why don’t you pay a visit as well?
The building, characterized by its arched windows, was designed by Katsuya Yasuoka. He is an architect who studied under Kingo Tatsuno, known for the design of Tokyo Station.
Its beginning was a bookstore founded in the Meiji period.
The Nagasaki Jiro Café began as a bookstore opened in 1874 (Meiji 7) by Jiro Nagasaki, an antique dealer. Records remain of visits by the literary master Ogai Mori, and it is a place said to have also been visited by Soseki Natsume and Lafcadio Hearn (Yakumo Koizumi), who taught at an old-system high school in Kumamoto. The current building was completed in 1924 (Taisho 13). Currently running the Nagasaki Jiro Café on its second floor is Keisaku Nagasaki, a descendant of the bookstore’s founder.
The catalyst for opening the café was in 2014, when Mr. Keisaku’s older brother, who had been managing the bookstore, became unable to continue running it due to illness. Mr. Keisaku wanted to somehow preserve his ancestors’ legacy, which had been loved by the citizens of Kumamoto, for the next generation. At first, he thought of making it a shop that sells beans from his wife’s favorite specialty coffee shop.
However, Mr. Keisaku thought to himself, “When I sat by the window on the second floor and watched the scenery of the streetcars running by, I wished I could create a space where people could relax while taking in this view.” And so, he decided to open a café for people to enjoy the scenery outside these windows, the elegant space of the historic architecture, and the coffee that Mr. Keisaku and his wife love.
The view from the window. Mr. Keisaku opened the café to preserve this scenery.
Keisaku Nagasaki (right)
The great-great-grandson of the founder, Jiro Nagasaki. While managing his family’s musical instrument store, he opened the Nagasaki Jiro Café in 2014. The furthest seat by the window, where Haruki Murakami is said to have also sat, is Mr. Keisaku’s favorite spot. On the left is his eldest son, Mr. Ukyo.
Specially crafted coffee, fragrant with the essence of Kumamoto.
In the same year, Mr. Keisaku’s second cousin took over the management of the bookstore. What Mr. Keisaku envisioned when starting the café was a timeless, standard coffee shop. His particular focus was the coffee. When brewing, he strictly adheres to the blooming time. It is said that this allows the flavor to stand out, and by letting the temperature drop just right, the aroma and taste can be enjoyed even more.
The beans used for the coffee served are carefully selected and sourced from specialty shops. The Jiro Blend, the face of the shop, has an easy-to-drink flavor. When I ordered it, it was free of any off-flavors, offered a light acidity, and felt approachable. “In addition, wanting a coffee with a touch of Kumamoto, I consulted with our supplier to see if we could create blends inspired by the literary masters and historical figures associated with the region.”
And so, as drip-bag souvenirs, they also developed three varieties: the “Soseki Blend,” “Ogai Blend,” and “Seishoko Blend.” “Soseki’s coffee, who was known to have a sweet tooth, was made to pair well with sweet treats. For Ogai, who was said to have eccentric eating habits, I thought it would be interesting if it had a mysterious taste. All of them are popular and have been crafted to be easy to drink. The blend named after Seishoko has a flavor inspired by the personality of Lord Kato Kiyomasa, who is said to have been both bold and delicate. I would be happy if you could taste it and see for yourself.”
Cold-brew iced coffee: 950 yen (tax included).
An item that can be drunk refreshingly with its clear bitterness.
Limited quantity item.
Jiro Blend: 790 yen (tax included).
Brimming with nostalgia,
“classic café sweets.”
The “Jiro-style French Toast,” bearing the shop’s name, is a popular sweet for which even the syrup is homemade. “Originally, I used to make it at home as a snack for my son. My family told me, ‘Since it’s delicious, why don’t you serve it at the shop too?’ so I added it to the menu about four years ago,” says Mr. Keisaku. Then, people who ate it posted photos on social media, and the number of people visiting the shop specifically for this has reportedly increased.
The toast, having soaked up the egg, is meltingly soft and fluffy, with a faint aroma of liquor. Thick syrup drips from it, and it pairs perfectly with coffee. “The syrup recipe is a secret. But even if I taught it to someone, others might not be able to replicate that smooth mouthfeel (laughs).”
Another popular sweet is the “Classic Pudding,” which is said to receive over 10,000 orders a year. It is slightly firm, and when you put it in your mouth, the flavor of the egg spreads. “I consulted with our ingredient supplier, saying I wanted to make a firmer pudding, and this flavor is what we came up with by thinking together. I think it is a flavor that older people will find nostalgic, and younger people will find unique.”
Jiro-style French Toast: 950 yen (tax included).
Everything from the toast to the syrup is homemade.
Bringing the town’s symbol,
the Western-style building, into the future.
In the summer of 2024, much to everyone’s regret, the bookstore suspended its operations. For Mr. Keisaku, the bookstore and the café were “two parts of a whole,” so he says the shock was immense. For a time, customer numbers dwindled, but after getting ideas from his son, Mr. Ukyo (23 years old), renewing the menu, and strengthening their social media presence, the number of young customers, such as couples and students from the neighborhood, increased.
Mr. Keisaku, who protects his ancestors’ legacy with his family, says, “People tell me, ‘Seeing the lights on in this building gives me peace of mind.'” In this Western-style building, loved by the city, spanning over a century, and still remaining today, why don’t you enjoy a moment of your afternoon in Kumamoto?
Ledgers used in the bookstore during the Taisho period are displayed inside the shop.
Events featuring performances on the upright piano inside the shop are also held regularly.
Last year, the souvenir corner was renovated.
Enriched with beans sold by weight and sweets.
The “Literary Master Blend” drip bags to enjoy at home are 324 yen each (tax included).
