Ep. 43 Serve the Highball to the Girls at the Snack Bar

Written by Cordelia.

Listen to the full episode :

Hello, my dear listeners! Welcome back to the Thursday Night Kissaten. Happy November!

Have you ever struggled with making small talk with your coworkers? Or perhaps you've tried to keep a firm boundary between your personal and professional life? For me, this has been an ongoing challenge for the past 14 years—learning how to communicate effectively while balancing those boundaries. Communication is tough; it’s never easy.

Today, we’re diving into a charming drama that touches on the theme of communication: Serve the Highball to the Girls at the Snack Bar (スナック女子にハイボールを).

About the Show

Serve the Highball to the Girls at the Snack Bar aired from April to June 2024. It stars Sayaka Yamaguchi and Kana Kita, with a story written by Aiko Kana, a former comedian.

The plot revolves around a small bar called "Margaret," which has become a popular nighttime spot for young people. At this bar, Satsuki, an office lady (OL), meets a quirky mama-san (the bar owner) who helps OLs solve their troubles. The comedy unfolds as the interactions between Satsuki, the mama-san, and the eccentric regulars at the bar take center stage.

Since the scriptwriter is a comedian, the punchlines are witty and well-timed, with a theatrical style that adds a dynamic pace to the story. The snack bar itself feels like a stage, offering the actors a space to perform with quick, sharp exchanges.

Snack Bars and Mama-san

In Japan, the female bar owner is often referred to as "Mama-san" or simply "Mama," as she takes on a role similar to a mother for her customers. The food served at these bars is typically homemade—simple, yet nostalgic. Many people in Japan enjoy drinking alone, and the interaction with the bar owner or staff is a key part of the experience. The owners and staff lend a listening ear, encourage conversations, and even introduce people to one another, much like a mother would at home. From what I’ve learned, a good bar isn’t just about great drinks and food—it’s also about having an owner who can create that warm, welcoming vibe.

As I mentioned in Yusaku’s Twilight, I once considered becoming a mama-san myself in my 20s. It seemed like a perfect way to gather stories for writing. Even in the TV show, the owner of Margaret says that for someone who loves to read and communicate, being a bar owner is an ideal fit. I completely understand where she's coming from.

The hallmark of a great bar is where people can talk freely, where conversation flows naturally. This is something I've noticed is quite different from North American bars. Over here, most people go to bars on dates and rarely drink alone, which is why the background music is often so loud. In contrast, in some Japanese bars, I could even read or write, creating a very different atmosphere—one that feels more like coming home.

But just for context, snack bars in Japan were originally designed for men. Yeah... as we discussed in a previous episode, the misogynistic undertones are still there.

Communication at Work

Satsuki often comes to the bar to vent about her boss, Miyanishi. From her perspective, Miyanishi is an old-fashioned ojisan who loves to give unsolicited advice, uses baseball metaphors for everything, hands out work after 6 PM, and assigns her the most difficult tasks while letting others waste time on trivial matters.

Ugh… it sounds stressful.

After bringing a junior colleague to the bar one time, Satsuki’s boss, Miyanishi, shows up there for a drink. It’s here that he witnesses Satsuki effortlessly making conversation with people from different generations. For the first time, Satsuki and Miyanishi have a genuine conversation. Miyanishi explains that he gives her challenging tasks because he knows she can handle them, but he also encourages her to voice her concerns. This ojisan reminds her that the work environment isn’t just something given—it’s something that can be changed, especially through open communication.

It’s true that work is just work, and no one wants to pour their heart into it. But still, Miyanishi urges Satsuki to have a little hope in people and to try communicating more openly with her colleagues.

“Don’t assume that others won’t understand your needs and ideas,” Miyanishi says. “Trust is built through communication.”

I forgot to mention earlier, but being a mama-san requires a high level of emotional intelligence. Think about it—during conversations with customers, they need to quickly grasp the larger picture (sometimes the customers might only come in once), and after listening, they must play the role of both a mother and a therapist. They need to encourage further conversation if necessary, all while making drinks and food and thinking on their feet. That’s a lot of work!

That’s why someone like Mama-san could easily excel in any company if they wanted to. At the end of the story, Mama Margaret hands over the business to one of her customers and goes on to become a consultant at a big firm.

Ending

The workplace is rarely a safe space. No one comes to work to be healed, as there’s so much politics, jealousy, and competition. There’s no such thing as an easy job in this world. It’s only in the last two years that I’ve truly been able to express myself at work with my own ideas and boundaries.

Satsuki is lucky to have made friends and to have someone like Mama Margaret to consult and support her.

Never assume that people won’t understand you. True, it can create a wall that hinders smooth communication. But what helps me is thinking, “I don’t care if people don’t understand because they probably won’t.” It’s all about finding that balance.

When I started this podcast, I thought it was just for me, Grace, and my cat Charlie. But I’ve since learned that there are so many of you out there listening.

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

Talk to you soon in the next episode.

Reference

Welcome back to Thursday Night Kissaten podcast.

In this episode, we are going to talk about a tv show, Serve the Highball to the Girls at the Snack Bar, スナック女子にハイボールを

Writer/Host/Technician/Translator: Cordelia 

Work: スナック女子にハイボールを (Serve the HIghball to the Girls at the Snack Bar)

TV Show website in Japanese: https://www.ctv.co.jp/sna-high/story/1.html

Background music:

フリーBGM「Immortal Bar」by こおろぎ

https://dova-s.jp/bgm/play12485.html

フリーBGM「酒場で仲間集め!_M292」by⁠ Fukagawa

https://dova-s.jp/bgm/play15184.html

フリーBGM「フリーBGM「酒場で仲間集め!_M292」by⁠ shimtone

https://dova-s.jp/bgm/play12461.html