We don’t know how that is attainable, however we’re oh so blissful it’s.
Osaka is called a spot the place folks love discovering a fantastic deal and having a good time. So when our Japanese-language reporter Seiji Nakazawa was again dwelling on a current go to and heard about Chutoro and Tonsoku, he knew he needed to examine it.
Chutoro and Tonsoku is an izakaya (Japanese-style pub) situated in Osaka’s Temma district. Temma has an old-school, blue-collar vibe, so there are various izakaya to be discovered within the neighborhood. Chutoro and Tonsoku, although, is the one one which sells sake for 1 yen (lower than US$0.01).
This isn’t some secret deal that’s solely obtainable to regulars or in any other case in-the-know prospects. Chutoro and Tonsoku is situated proper exterior the exit of Temma Station, and so they’ve obtained an enormous signal at their entrance proclaiming “Sake, scorching or chilly, 1 yen” (日本酒 あつかん 冷酒 1円).
The pub is definitely situated within the basement, so Seiji made his means down the steps, the place the partitions are plastered with handwritten menu gadgets.
As soon as contained in the pub, Seiji started wanting over the menu, which is sort of intensive, with a full lineup of alcoholic drinks and Japanese pub grub like oden (simmered greens and meats), karaage (fried hen), and even sushi.
Nonetheless, he couldn’t spot the 1-yen sake anyplace on the menu…not less than not the printed menu. This isn’t actually an issue, although, since at Chutoro and Tonsoku you place your order utilizing your smartphone, and on the digital menu 1-yen sake (1円日本酒) is simple to search out.
▼ The primary choice is for what number of sake cups you need them to deliver you (choices from high: none, one, two, three, and 4), and also you make your collection of room-temperature (常温) or scorching (あつかん) temperature under.
Now, while you order sake out in Japan, typically you get only a cup, and typically you get a complete small bottle, referred to as a tokkuri, with sufficient sake to refill your cup a couple of instances. With Chutoro and Tonsoku charging simply 1 yen for this sake, Seiji figured he’d solely be getting a single cup…
…however nope, they introduced him a full tokkuri!
The surprises have been simply getting began, although. Bear in mind how we talked about Chutoro and Tonsoku serves meals? A few of it’s unbelievably low-priced too. Wanting one thing to snack on, Seiji determined to order some stewed shiitake mushrooms, which have been solely 10 yen for a dish. Two piece of Chutoro and Tonsoku “easy pizza” collectively value him 109 yen.
109 yen was additionally the worth of the dish of oden that Seiji ordered.
▼ 109 is amazingly low cost…and but nonetheless greater than 100 instances as costly as Seiji’s bottle of sake.
At this level, Seiji’s head was spinning, however not from the sake. As a substitute, he was struggling to grasp how these costs have been attainable. However then he remembered, izakaya usually cost some type of service cost. Generally they offset this by robotically supplying you with a small appetizer while you are available in, and since Chutoro and Tonsoku didn’t give him one, that implies that no matter additional payment they cost is a straight mark-up to your invoice.
Wanting round, Seiji discovered an indication confirming that sure, there’s a desk cost at Chutoro and Tonsoku. Nonetheless, it’s not very a lot (275 yen earlier than tax, or 303 after), and Seiji was really left with one other query after studying the signal informing prospects of the cost.
▼ “For purchasers utilizing seats, there’s a desk cost of 275 yen.”
Turning his head a technique, Seiji might see tables with seats…
…however while you look the opposite means, you’ll see that Chutoro and Tonsoku has a standing part too.
So if the desk cost is for purchasers utilizing seats…
“That’s proper, there’s no desk or service cost for purchasers who use the standing part.”
The cheerful workers confirmed Seiji’s principle, and instructed him that they do certainly have prospects who are available in, order the 1-yen sake and a 110-yen plate of oden, pay their 111-yen invoice, and go dwelling, which Chutoro and Tonsoku has no downside with.
OK, however you continue to must order not less than one drink and one meals merchandise proper? Nope! Seiji requested it will be OK for somebody to come back to Chutoro and Tonsoku and order solely the 1-yen sake, and as soon as once more the workers was all smiles as they knowledgeable him “Yeah, that’s completely OK with us!”
Now totally reeling, Seiji’s thoughts reached out to attempt to grasp the final attainable means this technique might make any type of financial sense. Possibly solely your first bottle of sake is 1 yen. After that, the worth should go up, and possibly it’s costly sufficient that in the event you drink three or 4, you really find yourself paying greater than you’d some place else the place the primary bottle isn’t so near free?
In no way. You’ll be able to order as many bottles of the 1-yen sake as you need, and the worth doesn’t go up. Need two bottles? That’ll be 2 yen. 5 bottles? 5 yen. 10 bottles? We wouldn’t suggest ingesting that a lot all by your self, nevertheless it’s undoubtedly one thing you may afford to do with out another person to separate the invoice with, as these 10 bottles will probably be simply 10 yen.
Oh, and in the event you’re pondering the way in which Chutoro and Tonsoku pulls this off is by supplying you with crummy high quality, bad-tasting fare, that’s not the case both, as all the things Seiji and drink throughout his go to was scrumptious.
Ultimately, we don’t know how Chutoro and Tonsoku stays in enterprise. It’s like they exist in some dream realm exterior the bounds of real-world economics, nevertheless it’s a dream we’re glad we obtained to have, and one we hope to have once more the following time we’re in Osaka.
Restaurant info
Chutoro and Tonsoku / 中トロと豚足
Tackle: Osaka-fu, Osaka-shim Kita-ku, Nishiki-co 3-12
大阪府大阪市北区錦町3-12
Open noon-4 a.m.
Web site
Pictures ©SoraNews24
● Wish to hear about SoraNews24’s newest articles as quickly as they’re printed? Comply with us on Fb and Twitter!
[ Read in Japanese ]