Tucked between tall office buildings near the west side of Hibiya Park, Nishishinbashi, Tokyo, you will find a small eatery named Hanawa, serving home style cuisine to its patrons from near-by offices. The area is home to many large corporations, presses and mass media. The government offices in Kasumigaseki aren't very far, either. The average age of the patrons is high. The place is kept very clean, the counter and the floor sparkling. Otherwise there is not much to be said. It seats 20 or so. On the counter is a row of large bowls containing dishes once considered stuff of home cooked meals, like Okara (a dish of soybean solids which is left after extracting soy milk), Hijiki (a sea vegetable dish), Potato simmered with meat. The patrons get each dish served in individual serving bowls, utter "tastes great!", and move on to drinks of their choice to quench the thirst in their throats and minds.

There is a standard code of conduct that the regulars follow. No drunken loud voices. No talking big such as calling the prime minister names. No acting big, and so on. These are unwritten rules, but there are countless of those who are no longer welcome here because of their misbehavior. The mistress of the house creates and enforces the rules at her own discretion. "This is my castle. I don't want any unpleasant guest." she says without hesitation.

She can surprise anyone with her extensive knowledge and good memory. When she was a student of the first graduating class at the University on Air, her classmates used to come to get advice from her on their term papers.

It also opens for lunch. She has 5 to 6 people working under her to serve 70 to 80 lunches in one hour period. The menu includes things like grilled mackerel and natto (fermented soybeans), sukiyaki style meat and tofu. The refill is free. You can find many young office workers among the lunch crowd.

In the evenings, she has one girl, usually a foreign student, for help. The mistress makes it more an educational experience than a work experience for the student. She casually teaches the student "good Japanese language" and manners. The successive student part timers from Taiwan, Shanghai, and Hong Kong all became the mascot of the place. The patrons fondly look at the girl, who is as young as their daughters, but seems more receptive. They would help her with clearing tables, taking the dishes they used to the counter. The girls keep in touch with occasional international phone calls after returning to their home countries.

New customers are as a rule not accepted unless accompanied by a regular. A newcomer would be surprised to find the wide range of faces filling the place. As to the fate of those who fell out of grace, there is a possibility for returning. A notable example is a diet member who was allowed to come back after a few years, and became a cabinet member shortly thereafter.

Small hobby groups and study groups sprung up among the guys who gather here at Hanawa. It is cross-industry exchange at work. There are groups for instrumental music players, fly fishing, gourmet food, and travel, to mention a few. Golf unites everyone across the board and Hanawa Golf Competition is held annually.

This is a bulletin board for Hanawa regulars. It is where an on-line party is held after a party at Hanawa.

A patron: (in a small voice) "One more drink ..." The mistress: "You are over the limit!"