In Japanese, bozu means Buddhist monk, and at Vowz (pronounced bozu) Bar the bartender is—you guessed it—a monk. Born and raised in a Zen temple, owner Kanwa Takeuchi has travelled to 53 countries and can speak English, Portuguese, and Spanish. His cocktails draw inspiration from Buddhism, with names like Gokuraku Jodo (“pure land”), and there’s a selection of world beers available too. Not a drinker? Then try the green tea. A faint aroma of incense fills the bar, but please don’t light up—it’s no smoking. Although not a place of worship, Takeuchi offers consultations and can answer questions about Buddhism for foreigners.
Menu: Special cocktail “Ichigo-ichie” ¥1,500, world beers ¥900, green tea (w/sweets) ¥800, soft drinks ¥500, Buddhist vegetarian snacks ¥300~
* Cash only / No smoking / No reservations
Originally published in Fukuoka Now Magazine (fn224, August 2017)