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Backyard Coffee and Jazz in Kyoto

(thedeletedscenes.substack.com)
592 points wyclif | 9 comments | 23 Jun 25 14:37 UTC | HN request time: 0.001s | source | bottom
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nomilk ◴[23 Jun 25 17:59 UTC] No.44358364[source]▶
> on the vibrant business and street culture in Japanese cities and the seemingly very, very low barriers to entry for regular people to participate.

An astute observation that allowing markets to operate without onerous licensing schemes and regulations often has wonderful upsides, allowing quirky and niche interests to survive and even flourish.

A similar situation was true of Melbourne's small bar scene vs Sydney's. Sydney's more expensive/onerous licensing requirements were prohibitive for tiny bars. Whereas Melbourne's licensing was more permissive and less expensive, resulting in an abundance of quirky and interesting venues. Possibly my favourite example was a tiny indy video game bar (it shut down during covid, I think). https://barsk.com.au/skgames/?p=done

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lwansbrough ◴[23 Jun 25 19:41 UTC] No.44359274[source]▶
North Americans: the city planners are ruining your life in ways you didn't even know could exist.
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kurthr ◴[23 Jun 25 19:51 UTC] No.44359364[source]▶
I'm all for reducing permit requirements, but realisitically these would be used by McDo and Starbux to externalize more costs while increasing their quarterly profit. Really, you need to have something that is trusted and rational without corporate corruption, which Japan nominally is. The US is going the opposite direction from that.
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1. astrange ◴[23 Jun 25 22:58 UTC] No.44361065[source]▶
Japan has both McDonalds and Starbucks. Also, McDonalds is a franchise so "they" are not making most of the decisions here.

(Btw, I like US McDonalds better than Japan's, but maybe I'm the only one that thinks this.)

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2. jamiek88 ◴[24 Jun 25 00:02 UTC] No.44361486[source]▶
It’s weird, I’ve travelled for work and pleasure more than pretty much anyone I meet (I’ve visited 90 countries, worked in 21, lived longer term in 5. Currently settled West Coast US) and I’m somewhat of a fast food connoisseur lol - KFC, Domino’s, BK, Pizza Hut, etc are all without exception better in Europe and Asia with the exception of ,in my opinion , McDonalds. Maccies is better here as a rule. Sure you get the shitty franchisees sometimes but generally speaking!

This is a semi controversial opinion so, it’s interesting you feel the same way!

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3. azemetre ◴[24 Jun 25 00:30 UTC] No.44361659[source]▶
Can you say what makes USA McDs better? Definitely curious!
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4. thenthenthen ◴[24 Jun 25 02:43 UTC] No.44362426[source]▶
‘Free’ refills?
5. ehnto ◴[24 Jun 25 03:33 UTC] No.44362650[source]▶
Can I ask you about the use of Maccies, is it a term you've used for a while? Do you remember where you first picked it up?

It is a somewhat hot topic in Australia, where we've always called it Maccas, but somehow Maccies has entered the lexicon here too.

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6. astrange ◴[24 Jun 25 04:49 UTC] No.44362936[source]▶
It's not a big difference but Japanese burgers are smaller (of course) but the buns aren't small enough. So there's just way too much bread in my experience.

Also, US has a mango pineapple smoothie that's really good. I refuse to look up how much sugar is in it.

7. throwaway2037 ◴[24 Jun 25 05:34 UTC] No.44363105[source]▶
I know McD's has a mix of company-owned and franchise stores in the US. Is it the same in Japan? I don't know anything about how Starbucks works.
8. throwaway2037 ◴[24 Jun 25 05:36 UTC] No.44363112[source]▶

    > Maccies is better here as a rule.
Shots fired! No joke: Why do you feel that way? Also: Better than McD's in Japan?
9. BHShaw ◴[24 Jun 25 11:34 UTC] No.44365025{3}[source]▶
I've heard it called Maccie or Macky D in the UK for at least 15 years