Ep.1: What the Hell Is a Snack?

Japan has over 100,000 snack bars — tiny, counter-only drinking spots run by women known as "mama-san." But what exactly is a snack? In our debut episode, we trace these mysterious establishments from their origins around the 1964 Tokyo Olympics to the neon-lit back alleys of today, and walk you through what it actually feels like to step inside one for the first time.Topics: snack bar origins, the 1964 Tokyo Olympics connection, mama-san culture, what to expect on your first visit, bottle-keep, karaoke, and why these places matter.🎵 Music: "Fancy Party" by Steve Oxen (Fesliyan Studios)