Japanese Izakaya: Counter Facing the Cooking Station

Show a small Taiwanese izakaya where the counter faces the cooking directly. Render an L-shaped counter of thick solid timber seating twelve, with the working line immediately behind it: a charcoal grill with skewers over glowing coals, a small fryer, a chilled ingredient case with the day's fish and vegetables on ice, and a wall of sake and shochu bottles with handwritten labels. Hang a row of small paper lanterns and a fabric noren at the entry. Keep the ceiling low and dark with exposed timber joists and warm spot lighting aimed at the counter surface only. Detail the walls with vertical wooden menu strips hand-brushed in ink, layered densely. Show the chef mid-work reaching across the counter to hand a skewer directly to a customer. Add stools with timber seats and low backs, a small stack of ceramic dishes, and a beer tap. Keep the floor in dark tile or worn timber. Show warm dim evening lighting with strong contrast. Photorealistic, intimate and smoky, eye-level view along the counter.