Interview with Store Manager Moriyasu Mai
We spoke with Moriyasu Mai, store manager of Maru5deli Sunste Kurashiki Store, about the features of the cafe space created after the renovation and what she recommends on the menu.
About the renovation
What prompted the renovation?
Moriyasu (honorific omitted)
Ever since we first opened, I had wanted to create seating where customers could sit back and enjoy their drinks.
Until now, we only had about three seats in front of the register, so it was almost entirely a takeout shop. Then the space next door became available, and Sunste approached us—that was what got things started.
What are the features of the cafe space?
Moriyasu
The concept is “a relaxing space where you can feel at home, like in your own room.”
I chose each piece of furniture in the shop myself, and we even have things like a desk that I used at home. Many of the lamps and small decorative items are things I used at home, too.
We’re inside the station, but tucked away a little, so I’d be happy if people could relax here as if they’d found a hidden gem known only to those in the know.
We want you to enjoy the flavor of the ingredients
What do you focus on when making juice?
Moriyasu
Above all, it’s “letting people savor the ingredients themselves.”
We aim for a flavor that’s packed with fruit, simple yet nourishing, and that people can genuinely enjoy.
The new sweets also use fruit.
Moriyasu
For the sweets, too, we focus on making fruit the star, for example by using freshly squeezed juice.
I’ve always liked baking and have even sold my own treats, so I enjoy making sweets. But I’m not a professional pastry chef, so I’m not trying to overreach. I’m just getting started little by little, thinking, “What kind of things are our customers looking for?”
Gratitude to the farmers
I hear you also have close ties with farmers.
Moriyasu
During peach season, I go directly to the farmers to pick up the fruit myself.
Sometimes we also make use of fruit that would otherwise be discarded from an orchard run by an elderly couple.
One of the things I enjoy is thinking about how to make use of the bounty of the region, such as melons grown by a childhood friend and fruit brought in by farmers we know.
When serving juice that customers will enjoy, it’s essential to be grateful to the farmers who grow the fruit.
Events making use of the space
I heard you hold an event called Silent Book Club.
Moriyasu
At my older brother’s suggestion—he works for a publishing company—we started in March 2026.
It’s an event where people bring a book they like and simply enjoy reading quietly. In fact, it’s held all over the world. Our shop is one of the venues.
It’s so popular that the spots fill up right away each time, and it also brings book lovers together.
I hear you also took part in Kurashiki Afternoon Tea.
Moriyasu
This is our first time participating. From July 1 to September 30, 2026, customers can enjoy a special set of sweets made with fruit.
I’m not a pastry chef, so it’s been a process of trial and error, but I’ve put together delicious things made with care by everyone, including treats from FLOURS BAKE LINE and white peaches and Ashimori melons.
We want this to be a place where positive cycles emerge
What kind of shop would you like this to become in the future?
Moriyasu
I hope this will become a place that connects people with one another, and people with the local community.
Customers can take a breather with a drink or sweet, and producers hear that people enjoyed what they made. Those words then give them the strength to create more.
I’d be happy if positive cycles like that could spread.
We have many customers with children, so I imagine a scene where connections continue from parent to child, and then to the next generation when that child becomes a parent.
Now that we have a cafe space, I’d also like this place to spark new connections and gradually broaden people’s horizons. There are all kinds of ideas, such as displaying artwork as a gallery or collaborating with someone to hold a lunch event.
Rather than taking the lead myself, I’d like to support and watch over everyone’s activities quietly, responding to what people are looking for.
Would you like to share a message with our readers?
Moriyasu
Hearing customers say, “That juice brought me back to life,” encourages me every day. When people tell me it’s delicious, I’m the one who actually gets energized.
I hope to keep serving drinks that help everyone relax.
From the Writer
The renovated cafe space offers not only the deliciousness of fruit, but also a welcoming atmosphere where people can connect with one another at their own pace.
Enjoy the bounty of Okayama and take some time to relax.
Maru5deli Sunste Kurashiki Store Information
| Name | Maru5deli Sunste Kurashiki Store |
|---|---|
| Address | 2F Sunste Kurashiki, 1-1-1 Achi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-424-0905 |
| Parking | None |
| Business hours | 10:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. (Last order at 7:45 p.m.) |
| Closed | None Closed when Sunste Kurashiki is closed |
| Payment methods |
|
| Seating | 15 seats |
| Website | Maru5deli Sunste Kurashiki Store |
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