86-year old Hatsue Murata of Coffee Amikane
Tsukiji’s smallest coffee shop, Coffee Amikane, only seats six. It’s only open two days a week, Tuesday and Saturday. The hours are short, I believe 7:30 to 10 a.m. on Tuesday and possibly until noon on Saturday. If you are lucky to find an empty seat at the shop then grab a seat and have Murata-san pour you a cup of Joe for 250 JPY. More than anything, take in her lovely smile.
Hatsue Murata starts by warming up the coffee cup in a bowl of hot water. The coffee is in a large enamel coffee pot and is sitting in a pot of hot water. On the counter you will find condensed milk and sugar.
We were lucky as Murata-san’s daughter, who lives in California, happened to be there at the shop. Her mother is hard of hearing so her daughter shared with us her story. That she grew up in the house over the coffee shop. Her mother pointed to the coffee grinder and said that it was about 50-years old and her daughter corrected her mother saying it was more like 60 years.
When asked why her mother was still working the daughter said that in Japan, some people think that once you retire you are no longer useful. Her mother only opens the shop twice a week and for only a few hours at a time. Hatsue-san has a lovely smile and shows no signs of retiring soon. Her story reminds me of Jiro-san of Sukiyabashi Jiro. Perhaps Jiro-san also has the same feelings that Hatsue-san regarding work as they are both in their 80s.
If you happen to miss getting a seat at Coffee Amikane then be sure to go to my favorite Tsukiji spot, Turret Coffee. Consider yourself lucky if you make it here and can spend a few minutes with the lovely Hatsue-san.
Coffee Amikane
Chuo-ku, Tsukiji 6-27-3
Tuesday and Saturday only, limited hours
I am including this Instagram photo by NYC photographer Evan Sung. We happened to walk by and he pulled out his camera and she shot him a nice smile.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BGIN6AdB8Ej/?taken-by=evansungnyc&hl=en
Food Sake Tokyo 
Amazing! But it looks like she is really enjoying still working.
I love the sign that says “please speak loudly”
Adorable story
Hope you make it there someday!
Yes, she seems to be very happy behind the counter. She has lots of fans and the shops is usually full when I go by.
The shop and owner both look so lovely. Thanks for sharing this gem!
She is very sweet. Hope you can meet her someday!
I loooooved the way she made coffee when I visited in March last year. I wanna go back to Tsukiji just to have her coffee!
A 81 year old barista with 57 years of experience . No fanciful latte art but serving simple coffee with milk and sugar with rustic equipments topped with that lovely , welcoming smile .A really good environment in Old Tsukiji market . Sadly its gonna make way for the Tokyo Olympics soon and really dont know what will happen to her n her lovely hidout …..
Her hideout is not part of the move (as I understand the move). Her shop is in the outer market (jogai) which is NOT moving. 🙂