Gallery & Cafe Mikado is situated in front of the the approach to the Akagi Shrine in Kagurazaka. The producer of this place is Shintaro Yabe, the owner of the bar lounge Salon do Shintaro on the Namiki Dori street of Ginza. Shintaro, who knows the very best, introduces us to a treasure box-like shop collecting ‘potteries that one day will become fine antiques’.

Shintaro established Gallery & Cafe Mikado as a result of his passion for potteries and antiquities. Based on the experience of running restaurants, Shintaro opened Mikado as a wholesale shop, selling dishes to restaurants. ‘As a wholesaler, we have to prepare fifty, sometimes a hundred of the same dishes. So we ask for support from contemporary pottery artists, not only dealing with antiques’.

Now Mikado became a shop welcoming customers from all over the world. ‘Customers include an owner chef of a restaurant with three Michelin stars, and a cook who became independent and is about to open a new restaurant. People usually buy a big batch, so it is a hard work to stock plenty items all time’ says Shintaro.

Gallery & Cafe Mikado doesn’t have featured exhibitions. This is to let pottery artists make as much work as they wish. ’I was astonished to learn that usually artists pay the costs for travel and accommodation when they hold exhibitions. I told them that I will sell your signature dishes, so please make how ever many works you want. I would also like them to challenge themselves to make new works, so their time can be spent on making both signature works and experimental works.’

The current list of pottery artists is around thirty. All are promising and popular artists including Kai Tsujimura, who was a customer of the Salon. The secret to achieve such a roster of artists is not only Shintaro’s sharp judgement, but also the relationship that Shintaro has carefully built with each artist. ‘I only ask artists whose work will become quality antiques. On my first visit to their studio, I don’t talk about pottery too much. But I buy their work there, and I host the evening in a Ryotei restaurant. Even after we start working together, I usually visit to see them at least twice a year.’

In the shop full of dishes, there is a counter where people can have coffee and light snacks. This comfortable cafe space became popular even with non-professional customers. If you are lucky and come in when Shintaro is on duty in the shop, you might be able to get advice on which dishes to go for.
　
　
– Shintaro Yabe –
From Aibetsu in Hokkaido. Debuted in Gion in Kyoto. Opened Salon de Shintaro in Kitashinchi in Osaka in 2000, which moved to Ginza in Tokyo in 2003. Salon de Shintaro is known to be loved by many celebrities. Shintaro also runs several restaurants, including Suijinkan in Hokkaido and Mon in Kanazawa.
　
　

Photography: Koshi Tarumi