[Crowd Funding] Musubiyori : Board Game Cafe near Ueno Station

Exciting news!
When I went to BitSummit- another story for another time- I met some people who also like to play board games. Unfortunately, I'm pretty far removed from where they meet up. However, after some searching I found out about a board game cafe opening right by Ueno Station in Tokyo. It's called Musubiyori, and it looks like they have a great setup! There are tables as well as tatami booths (with lowered floors, so you don't need to suffer through your feet falling asleep!), plus discounts and spaces for all kinds of customers and even a bar. They've kindly allowed me to translate their crowdfunding page. I know I'm not the only one who wants to go, but they need help! If you can, please donate any amount you're comfortable with, and depending on that amount, you can get some sweet rewards! The crowdfunding campaign is only until July 3rd!
Note: this crowdfunding service cannot send rewards outside of Japan. That especially applies to the teacup set, but if you ever find yourself in Tokyo, you can pick up the tickets at the store!

For the crowdfunding page, click here.
English translation is below.



-Introduction-

"I don't bite!"

I'm Shimazu of Talosil Games.

We're going to open a board game cafe called "Musubiyori" in a great location just a minute's walk from Ueno Station!

Anyone can enjoy plenty of games and feel at ease in our Japanese-themed space.

On weekdays, you can stop by after work before getting on your next train home.
On weekends and holidays, you can play games just like you just invited a bunch of your friends over.
We want you to feel at home here.

Ueno Station is unbelievably convenient for those transferring trains to Chiba or Ibaraki.
However, there haven't been any board game cafes in the area until now.

So we took our chance and found this incredible location, and what's more, at a resonable rent.

Sure, it's not a new building, and there's no elevator to take you to our place on the 5th floor, but it's close enough to escape from the rain and, hopefully, offer a comforting refuge.

At Musubiyori, we'll make a fun place with all of the right services.
Our goal is for guests, both players and creators, to use the space in a way most convenient for them and to share good times through games.

That's why we need your help to support this project!

-About the Store-
Address:
7-chome-7 5 Ueno Taito-ku Tokyo To-o Building 5F
(〒110-0005 東京都台東区上野7-7-5 東欧ビル5F)

Access:
1-minute walk from JR Ueno Station Iriya Exit

5-minute walk from JR Ueno Station Asakusa Exit
5-minute walk from Tokyo Metro Ueno Station (Ginza or Hibiya Line)

-Visiting Musubiyori-

Musubiyori is a cafe where you can enjoy board games, but above all we think of it as a place you can have a good time with your favorite people.
That's why we've prepared the following plans to suit any occasion.

*Not an actual image.

- Girls' Party Discount: female-only groups get 500 yen off their table and complimentary snacks!
- Parent-Child Discount: groups of parents and their children can use the children's space for free and get a free kid's drink! (limited to pre-school children and under)
- Student Discount: with a student ID, get 500 yen off your table!
- Others: We also offer a variety of other plans, including a Ladies' Day discount, renting out the entire cafe, and holding events.

How you use the cafe is up to you.

You also have your choice of seating!
In addition to regular tables and chairs, we have prepared lowered tatami seating areas separated by folding screens for an at-home-with-friends experience.
Of course, the regular tables are separated by partitions as well so you and your friends can play in peace!

Feel free to visit on your own, too!
In that case, you can either put out a call for other players to join you or have a playing space all to yourself.
Our female staff will assist women who come alone.

Plus, we have couples' seats and a counter for those who want to chat with the staff.
Please use the cafe as you see fit!

-Not Just Any Board Game Cafe!-

The 22nd of every month is Cat Day! (In Japanese, the number 2 is pronounced "ni", which is close to "nyan", the sound a cat makes!) On this day, the cat on our signs, Tart, will clock in to work. He's still a spoiled 3-year-old, but he loves company!
Guests who bring their cat on this day get 500 yen off their table as well as a gift for their cat!

Tart says, "Yeah, games or whatever, play attention to me!"

We expect Musubiyori to be a hit with people on their way home on the train.
I happen to be a fan of alcohol myself, so I'm getting ready plenty of drinks for those who do. I'll also keep your unfinished bottles for your next visit.
You can also use the counter as a bar to play games while getting to know the staff!

*Not an actual image.

-Store Information-

Business Hours:
[Weekdays] 4pm-10pm
*We also open between 1pm and 4pm for advance reservations.
[Weekends] 1pm-10pm

Regular Closings:
Every Thursday
*When a holiday falls on Thursday, we open on that day.
*We also close for Obon (in August), New Year's, and special events.

Prices:
[Weekdays]
"Daytime" 1pm~4pm
1000 yen for up to 3 hours (with 1 free drink)
*reservations required
"Evening Time" 4pm~7pm
1000 yen for up to 3 hours (with 1 free drink)
"Bar Time" 7pm~10pm
1000 yen for up to 3 hours (with 1 free drink)

[Weekends]
"Daytime" 1pm~4pm
1250 yen for up to 3 hours (with 1 free drink)
"Evening Time" 4pm~7pm
1250 yen for up to 3 hours (with 1 free drink)
"Bar Time" 7pm~10pm
1250 yen for up to 3 hours (with 1 free drink)

[Fixed-Price Passport]
Within the period of validity, you can use this passport as many times as you want.
20,000 yen per month (with 1 free drink per time slot)

-Supporter Rewards-

(1) Thank You Email
We'll send you an email with our heartfelt gratitude.
(500 yen)

(2) 6 Tickets (50% off original value!) (women only)
These tickets give you free table use for up to 3 hours on weekdays during Evening Time (4pm~7pm) or Bar Time (7pm~10pm).
Invite your friends!
*Only women can use these tickets.
*Each ticket comes with 1 free drink.
*You can also pick up these tickets at the store.
(3,000 yen)

(3) 6 Tickets (40% off original value!)
These tickets give you free table use for up to 3 hours on weekdays during Evening Time (4pm~7pm) or Bar Time (7pm~10pm).
Invite your friends!
*Each ticket comes with 1 free drink.
*You can also pick up these tickets at the store.
(3,500 yen)

(4) 2 Original Teacups
Along with a thank-you letter, we'll send two teacups with our original logo. It's great for those who may not be able to visit the store but want a commemoration of their support!
(4,000 yen)

(5) Party Set of 8 Tickets (35% off original value!)
These tickets give you free table use during any time on any business day.
Come and have fun with your buddies!
*If you use these tickets on a weekday, you'll get an additional free drink.
*You can also pick up these tickets at the store.
(6,500 yen)

(6) One-Month Passport (50% off original value!)
For one month after the store opening, you can use a table as many times as you want for free!
We'll send you one passport.
*Each visit to the store comes with 1 free drink.
*You can also pick up this passport at the store.
(10,000 yen)

(7) 3-Month Passport and Event Invitation
For three months after the store opening, you can use a table as many times as you want for free!
We'll send you one 3-month passport.
*Each visit to the store comes with 1 free drink.
*You can also pick up this pasport at the store.

We'll also send you an invitation to the pre-party before the store opening (planned for Friday, June 30th from 5pm to 8pm).
(30,000 yen)

(8) 3-Month Passport, Right to Select Games, and Event Invitation
For three months after the store opening, you can use a table as many times as you want for free!
We'll send you one 3-month passport.
*Each visit to the store comes with 1 free drink.
*You can also pick up this pasport at the store.

We'll put your favorite board games on our bookshelves!
*You can choose up to 10 board games. If the game you choose has several expansion components, we may not be able to acquire all components.
*We'll keep the games on the shelf for at least a month. After that, they may be changed according to store operations.

We'll also send you an invitation to the pre-party before the store opening (planned for Friday, June 30th from 5pm to 8pm).
(50,000 yen)

-Use of Received Support-
We'll use received capital for the following investments:

- promotional expenses
- enhancing store facilities
- reward postage fees
- pre-opening event expenses
- payment for interior design

-Who We Are-
Finally, as the originator of this project, I have a few things to say.

It's already been 20 years since I first tried out a table-top RPG.
I play all kinds of games, analog and digital; there's no question about it, I like them all.
I want to keep working with games and connect to other game-lovers.

Oh, and I love bringing people together.
I still have really fun memories of getting together and playing games with my family and relatives as a kid.
I want to meet, talk, and connect to many people. That's why I thought to make such a place.

Musubiyori is my dream, but I'm also looking to expand my circle of friends by even one more person.
I'm grateful for any assistance you can offer!

How things have changed! （変わった奴だね）

Why, hello, blog I started four (?!) years ago.

Funny you should mention it: I'm in Japan again.

This time, I'm doing exactly what I wanted to do four years ago.

Four years later, I can't wait for it to end.

I have about a month left before my contract as an Assistant Language Teacher finishes. When I tell people about some of the things I've done, they tell me I should write it down somewhere. It just so happens that the stories I tell are the most interesting parts of my experience here; for the most part, I just sit at a desk and try to figure out what's going on, wander around and try to figure out where everyone's going, or be "genki" in a classroom and hope it's going well. It wears you down, and you stop wanting to do anything. I stopped doing the things I enjoyed because I thought I should concentrate on "doing better". I ended up doing, well, nothing.

The stories are few and far between, but they gave me a reason to keep trying. I kept hearing the phrase "take care of the ones you care about" (iterations of 「大切な＿を大切にする」) and came to the realization that I just need to find what's important to me and keep it close. There aren't so many people to meet in the countryside; you'd assume the scarcity would give you a better chance to know more people, but it just deepens your relationships with the few that open up to you. I spent most of my time with those people, not doing anything special but making memories nonetheless. Something as simple and unmemorable as going out to karaoke in the middle of the night gave me incomparable joy, and being able to go to a friend's house while she's busy with other things evaporated the loneliness if only for a while.

Some things just don't last, but that doesn't make them meaningless.

Case in point: I want to keep going forward with new ambitions. From now on, I'd like to introduce as much of the good as possible so that they can be enjoyed and my hardships will have been for good reason.

Lately I've come into contact with lots of interesting people here. Well, not here, exactly, but during my time as an ALT, and before I start my new adventure. With their help, I hope I can do something "super" enough to suit this blog.

I mean, I'm already pretty super, myself. (Just gotta keep telling myself that...!)

First off: I had the chance to publicize a social event called "Kawakom" to the community of English teachers here.

What's Kawakom, you ask? Well, it comes from "river" (川) and the kon of "goukon" (合コン), which varies in meaning from the innocuous "mixer" to "matchmaking party". In this case, it's a way to do an extreme water sport with a bunch of people who may or may not have romantic intentions. Then you bathe and melt your fatigue away in the hot spring, eat a feast, end up in a dance party and by the next morning, cozy in your cabin, you've probably made some friends. Apparently two couples have been formed so far, and this is their 8th round... which means there's no pressure if you're just there to make friends! (I guess.)

Seriously, it's fun, and the guides are a riot. This is the kind of thing you should be doing in Japan! Stop taking pictures of that crosswalk in Shibuya, it's just a bunch of concrete and wires! /endrant