Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on August 2012

Black Heart (B2 Tamei Bldg, 6-3-16 Ginza, Chuo-ku; www.bar-blackheart.com), sits on the margins of urban culture. This underground salon where dilettantes mingle with folk from various performing art backgrounds was established in Sukiya Street in 1997 by Tatsumi Naito, owner of Vanilla Gallery and three equally fascinating bars in Ginza. The parlor frequently transforms into a gallery, mini-theater, weekly kinbaku (bondage art) workshop, and experimental gigs. Ladies drink for free on Tuesday nights and the English website goes into detail about the table charge system.