Tokyo Weekender - September 2017

COFFEE AND
PROPHECY
The curious case of a Tokyo café serving messages
from God – you may have to queue to get
in, but you may just leave feeling more at peace
Words by Michael Lanigan
Do you want the Prophetic Message?”
the waitress asks, handing
me a menu. Coffee costs ¥800
here at Yogen Cafe, but it comes
with complimentary biscotti,
a short Christian prophecy, and no seating
charge. So in a way, it’s getting value for
your money through the sides.
The interior is predominantly red and
white. There’s an exposed brick wall on
which a large white cross has been mounted.
Pour-over coffee pots, percolators and coffee
table books line the shelves at the entrance.
On each table is a small book espousing the
cafe’s doctrine using that same minimal
color scheme, which in book form shares a
certain resemblance with the artwork from
Takashi Miike’s film Love Exposure.
Stowed away on a foodie street in the
Minato district of Tokyo, by all accounts was
it not for the crucifix, Yogen could pass for
any standard coffee house. Its customer base
ranges from housewives to business folk,
most of whom are not here for a social call.
Likely they are here because it gives a coffee
break dual functions: caffeine and selfimprovement.
Many customers come alone. Company
is provided upon arrival in the form of a
staff member who joins you as the orders
are served. The customers sit and listen
intently to the wait staff who begin muttering
quickly into various recording devices.
Prophesizing softly, the diatribes are barely
audible over the sound of a gentle operatic
aria playing and the regular grinding
of beans.
As the waitress returns with my coffee,
she takes a seat, clasps my phone in both
hands and starts chanting. “The Lord said,
‘This is a new season for you. The old cycle is
broken. The new cycle is coming. You don’t
need to struggle any more. Give me your
burden, your problems.’”
For three minutes, she talks uninterrupted.
“I am going to give you new territory to
take over. You have a great business prospect.
Don’t think that you are small. You can
imagine your territory in Japan or overseas. I
will give you whatever you want. I am going
to give you the new strategy, you are a pioneer,’
said the Lord.”
This is not coming from any recognizable
Biblical passages. In a sense, it feels like a
26 | SEPTEMBER 2017 | TOKYO WEEKENDER