Cha-Cha: noun. A fast, rythmic ballroom dance of Latin-American origin with a basic pattern of three steps and a shuffle.
In Tagajo, a small suburb of the million population city of Sendai in northern Japan, there is a very special snack bar called Cha-Cha’s. It is one of my favorite places to go when visiting this area. When one walks down the street from Tagajo station during the day time, you can find Cha-Cha’s if you look very closely as a very non-descript, somewhat old, small two story building. What strikes you when you see it is that there are large metal shutters that are pulled down that completely hide what lies inside. It is frankly not a very appealing site. In fact, one look at it at this time of the day and you would probably never want to go there when it was open. Thanks to the knowledge of some of my very astute co-workers, I was taken to Cha-Cha’s during the night time after dinner, to relax and have a few drinks. I was amazed at what this placed looked like after dark. The shutters are rolled up to reveal a very nice, clean brightly lit bar with tables that is very appealing to the eye.
Inside you quickly find out what makes Cha-Cha’s so special. They have a Master (pictured above along with his son) and a Mama-san who have known my co-workers for many years. The result is a hospitality that is extremely nice and welcoming. Aside from the assorted drink and snacks available, Cha-Cha’s also has a Karaoke system for those who want to use it. They have a regular clientele from the neighborhood that loves to have a good time, and have been typically very engaging each time I have visited. The Master at Cha-Cha’s also has another wonderful talent – he is an artist. Many of his original paintings can be found on the walls and I hear that his work studio for this hobby can be found upstairs. I have had many a good time at Cha-Cha’s thanks to the friendliness of the staff as well as my friends. I would strongly recommend a visit if you ever find yourself in the Tagajo area!
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