OB: Original Bartender

14 years of keeping the festival lubricated

The Fuji Rock Festival came to Naeba in 1999, and the next year, a local hotel for skiers, the Swallow Lodge, started running a bar on its front stoop to help service festival-goers (urgent) needs — alcohol!!! We stopped by to interview one of the bartenders. Here is his story.

Q: What is your name?

A: Tatsuya Watanabe.

Q: How many years have you worked at this bar at the Swallow Lodge?

A: Since 2001 I’ve been here every year but one.

Q: When is the bar open?

A: From Thursday noon to Monday noon.

Q: How many employees does it have?

A: I am the only real employee. There are also a couple guys who help out, and the lodge owner.

Q: When do you sleep?

A: About six hours a day. If the other guys are OK to take over for a while, then I can sleep.

Q: When do you drink?

A: When I’m awake I’m drinking.

Q: That’s 18 hours a day.

A: Pretty much.

Q: What do you drink, so you can keep going?

A: Japanese sake.

Q: What’s the busiest time of day at your bar?

A: From 5am to 7am, after the Palace of Wonder closes.

Q: For your first year, in 2001, that was before the Palace of Wonder, right?

A: Yes. I think it [The Palace of Wonder] was just a campfire then. I’m not really sure what it was, but people would hang out and drink there. It is not far from here.

Q: How did you get this job?

A: Back in 2000 or 2001, I met a girl in a bar in Kichijoji. She was known as “the Devil.” She told me there is something going on in Naeba, and if you bring alcohol, people will buy it.

Q: In your dozen times at Fuji Rock, have you ever seen a band?

A: Yes, once for 30 minutes.

Q: Which band?

A: I don’t remember. It was a long time ago.

Q: What’s your favorite thing about Fuji Rock?

A: Everybody’s happy all day long.

Q: Thanks for the interview!

A: You’re welcome.