salaryman sanctuary 2. The basement izakaya lounge is inspired by the bars in Tokyo's postwar back alleys. Postwar Japan inspires a Chicago eatery By ALIA AKKAM Photography by HUGE GALDONES and BARRY BRECHEISEN Just after World War II, Japan experienced what was known as the economic miracle, an era of Western-fueled prosperity that lasted through the Cold War. This transformative time is what New Yorkbased AvroKO delved into when designing Momotaro, Boka Restaurant Group's newest in Chicago's Fulton Market district. While many Japanese restaurants succumb to clichéd aesthetics, AvroKO principal Kristina O'Neal says the team was "keen to explore a unique-and important- period of Japanese history and culture, one which would allow us to challenge ourselves by connecting to age-old Japanese themes without simply reproducing the meme." One such example is the hard-earning salaryman archetype. This corporate type hospitalitydesign.com May 2015 311http://www.hospitalitydesign.com