Niigata sake, oden, and modern jazz: Congratulations to In F (*) for celebrating 30 years open this year (est. July 17, 1995)! The name In F refers to the key of F of music. Playing a blues in F, or certain other standard tunes in F, is common in jazz.

Almost like a tiny classroom with a teacher’s desk table along the side, or a serious jazz study room, bookshelves line the walls at the jazz club In F in the Oizumi-gakuen district in Tokyo. In the center, up-front floor seats can be had at one long community table made up of three smaller square tables pushed together with seats for about 6 to 8 people.

There are also great views from the L-shaped bar in the back with space for several more customers. These bar seats are close enough to the stage with an elevated view, and even closer to In F’s tasty food and drinks, which are centered around a variety of Niigata specialties. Niigata (新潟) is a major Japanese port city known for its delicious rice production and, as a result, its high-quality Niigata nihonshu. Naturally, varieties of famous Niigata sake are also a big draw at In F jazz bar, and the rice wine is poured from large bottles with beautiful labels that customers can appreciate up close with their pour.

The classic seasonal dish of savory oden (Japanese soul food) is also a can’t-miss draw here, offered in a mini size with boiled eggs, daikon radish, and other ingredients. In addition to oden, simple plates like grilled potatoes, pickled vegetables, fries, and tofu are rotated in and out of the menu. And there’s always beer, of course, even Guinness.

In F occupies a small square windowless room on the thirdfloor, where customers are surrounded by books, magazines, CDs, and even cassette tapes that vie for space in the crammed bookshelves.

There is no excessive decoration or artwork to distract from the main event, which is that evening’s musical performance. This minimalistic space, enclosed within plain off-white walls, elevates the music and inspires the musicians to fill up the room and bond the listeners together with jazz creativity and rhythm. Focusing on the music is the entire point, after all, possibly enhanced by as much or as little of the attractive menu as fits each customer.

While In F may be a small, no-frills establishment, it succeeds as a comfortable and easy atmosphere with excellent curated background music (modern jazz, free jazz, and ECM label records have often been heard here) with an underground yet enviable jazz schedule of creative and interesting musicians.

For more information:

• In F’s website
• Located near Oizumi-gakuen station in Tokyo, Japan

Jazz of Japan #314 • Jun 19, 2025 • Brian McCrory