A pack of waving cat figurines clusters above the big wooden bar at Yuki Izakaya. Posters for Japanese films hang on the exposed brick walls. In the corner, two women play French pop songs on cello and violin. In the early evening, young club-hoppers fortify themselves with fish cakes, crab dumplings, and deep-fried nuggets of mashed potatoes. Late at night, crowds pack the small space to down sake, shochu, and Sapparo beer between the sets at nearby clubs. Except for the familiar relaxed attitude of New Orleans, this new Japanese yakitori bar feels utterly foreign amid the brass bands and jazz venues on Frenchmen Street.