The well-worn footrest installed under the counter at Gekkoso Salon Tsuki no Hanare has a story going back more than 70 years.
Ginza Cool was one of the most famous bars in the good old Ginza. It was opened in 1948 by owner and bartender Furukawa Rokuro, and was one of the three great bars in Ginza at the time. Furukawa began his training at the age of 13 in the early Showa era, and built his career in bars in Ginza, becoming one of Japan's most legendary bartenders.
In 1971, Ginza Cool moved to the Ginza 7-chome Corridor Street and continued in business until the beginning of the 21st century, but closed on November 19, 2003, which would have been Furukawa's 88th birthday, much to the regret of many. It seems that Furukawa's aesthetic sense was to retire while still in good health.
After that, there was talk of turning the restaurant into a ramen shop, but it would be a shame to just sit back and watch this famous restaurant that their parents had been frequenting change, so new owners including Masamichi Toyama, CEO of Smiles Co., Ltd., got together and transformed the restaurant into a wonderful wine bar called Ginza Stock.
Ginza Stock inherited many of the furnishings from the KOOL era, including the counter. Ginza Stock, which is filled with memories of such a long-established bar, closed on October 8, 2019 after 13 years and 5 months in business.
At the closing party, when Toyama Masamichi and the owner of Gekkoso were present, the idea came up that "it would be great if Gekkoso could take over some of the items that are imbued with the thoughts of so many people."
Therefore, we have decided to move the footrest under the counter, which has as many footprints of gentlemen and ladies as there are stars, to under the counter of Gekkoso Salon Tsuki no Hanare. All of our staff feel the weight of being able to take over part of this glorious history.
The words of Ginza Cool's Furukawa Midorio, with whom I had an indirect connection, really touched my heart, so I would like to share them with you all.
"In a store, customers, the owner, and employees must all observe good manners, etiquette, and morals. A store is not good just because it has nice features or is filled with furnishings and luxury items. Unless the owner and employees work together as one for the sake of the store and for a common goal, it will not be a good store. And the cooperation of customers is essential. It is the customers who make a good store.
If customers understand the business purpose of the establishment and follow etiquette, manners, and morals, the atmosphere inside the establishment will be good, the establishment will be fun, and the drinks will naturally taste better. Then, customers will spread the word about the establishment, saying that it's a good establishment and that people should try it. If the establishment has good customers, it will gain a certain dignity, it will be advertised to the public, and customers will come.
Customers don't just visit one store, they visit other stores and make comparisons. Good stores always have something in common."
