Coffee first reached Japan in the 17th century, but it wasn't until the 19th century that it started to catch on. Drinking coffee was one of many elements of Western culture eagerly adopted in that era, and countless cafes sprang up in cities. This time on Japanology Plus, we'll explore some ways in which cafes are enjoyed these days in Japan. Our expert guest, Naoyuki Takai, is a journalist who has written many books about cafes and cafe culture. And in Plus One, some offbeat cafe experiences.

独自の文化をもつ日本の喫茶店。人々はお気に入りの店を見つけ、その日の気分や用途によって喫茶店を使い分けている。８０年代にはセルフサービスの大型チェーンカフェも登場するが、未だに人気を誇るのは昔ながらの個人経営の喫茶店。マスターがつくる居心地のよい空間、本気でいれる珈琲に人は癒やされる。また飲食にとどまらず、テーマをもった娯楽の場としての喫茶店も紹介。ミニコーナーでは今東京で話題のコンセプト喫茶へ。