miyaji-ma
"男はつらいよ" is my favorite. I finally went to eat the tempura bowl that Atsumi Kiyoshi and Director Yamada used to enjoy during breaks from filming. It was a Saturday afternoon, a little past 1 PM, and we were able to enter the restaurant smoothly without waiting. We passed by the owner, who was frying the famous tempura by the storefront, and entered the restaurant. Immediately to the left was a pantry area where they prepared beverages and had dishes lined up, a place where customers couldn't see in a typical restaurant. It was filled with a variety of miscellaneous items, which gave it an unpretentious Edo-style charm, and you could even feel the history. We took our seats and started sipping bottled beer from small cups (definitely not mugs, which added to the charm). In about 10 minutes, the tempura bowl arrived. It had two large prawns and green bell peppers as toppings. I wished for more toppings, but that's how this restaurant is. Just one bite, and I noticed that the batter was quite crispy. Did they fry it too long? Well, no, it seems this crispiness is their specialty, as mentioned in other reviews. The appearance was rich, and the sauce was even richer and sweeter than it looked. Hmm, I thought people from Kansai might not like this... Nevertheless, I polished it off in about 5 minutes, settled the bill, and as we were leaving, I said, "Thank you for the meal" to the owner who was at the entrance. In response, he replied, "Thank you very much" with a polite thank-you and bow. Honestly, it was the owner of an old and popular restaurant in a tourist destination. I had expected a different reaction (maybe a bit aloof), but his kindness and warmth were the complete opposite. It made me feel like I had discovered the reason why this restaurant has been loved for so long. It's been about two weeks since I visited, and as I write this review, I already miss that crispy batter and the incredibly rich and sweet sauce. This is what it means to be an old and beloved establishment...