In the narrow, Showa era alleyways of Jimbocho, there stands an unassuming two-story wooden building estimated to have been built around 1929. Once known as the “Shoshinsha Building,” the second floor of this structure housed three major poetry publishing houses: “Shoshinsha” by Hitoshi Moriya, ” Eureka” by Tokuo Date, and “Shichosha” by Kyuro Oda. These publishers, all crammed into the same 33 square meter office, shared desks and a single telephone while leading the way in modern Japanese poetry.

The first floor was occupied by “Rimbaud,” a cafe established by Hitoshi Moriya in 1947. This coffee house would become a fixture of the Tokyo writing scene, with authors such as Yukio Mishima, Shusaku Endo, and Junnosuke Yoshiyuki becoming regulars. “Milonga” opened in 1953 as a successor to “Rimbaud” and became a popular spot for Argentine tango, which was enjoying a period of popularity in Japan at that time. In 1995 it was renamed to “Milonga Nueva.” after a period of renovation and still operates under this name today.

After the relocation of “Milonga Nueva” in 2023 this building became known as the “West India House”. Attracted to the timeless beauty of the property’s rare historic brick construction that endured the pre-war, post-war, Bubble, and redevelopment eras, “boro” opened its doors here in 2024. In the spirit of the poets, authors, and artists who built this space all these years ago, GALLERY KOGURE aims to exhibit artworks that have weathered through each era, and those that lead the contemporary scene in this unique and important building. We look forward to immersing you in the art and history of Jimbocho in this space.