Loved Cranky Yankee's notes! I was in the area for a couple of years back in late 60s, and many's the night we would pack a couple of guitars and a benjo into any of the nine million little bars around Shinjuku. They'd welcome us to the little stage, we'd play all evening, the patrons would get all whipped up and send us free beers, and we'd finally crawl up the stairs and into a taxi. One of my most treasured memories is a night we couldn't even call a taxi....just slept in the gutter, clutching our instruments. Woke up the next morning, guitar at my side and wallet still in my pocket, dusted off and went back to USAHCZJ (Camp Zama Hospital). Tokyo is the safest place in the world. Somehow, I don't recall those joints being quite as snazzy-looking as this O'Carolan's Pub, though. If and when I go back, I'll definitely stop at this place for a Sapporo or five!!