Interview with Yokota Yuko
Yokota, who belongs to the Fan Service Section of the Kurashiki City Boat Race Business Bureau.
Her work involves planning and managing events for visitors to the boat race course.
The interview features content from the initial coverage conducted in September 2022.
Work to Delight Visitors
Is promoting gourmet food part of your job, Yokota-san?
Yokota
I just transferred to the Boat Race Business Bureau this year (2022) and thought about what I could do, so I created a gourmet signboard.
When entering the facility, there was no information at all about where to eat.
It wasn't on the official website either.
To create the gourmet signboard, I first wanted to understand the situation on-site, so I ate at the cafeteria and talked with the staff.
Was there a trigger for focusing on gourmet food?
Yokota
At a boat race prediction event, a certain comedian came and kept saying, "I had delicious Chinese soba."
I thought, is it really that delicious and famous? Then I had to go eat it!
That was the trigger.
It had been mentioned by staff that we needed to promote gourmet food for a while.
But I thought that someone who has never eaten it can't promote it, so I visited all the stores.
As I focused on gourmet food, the cafeteria staff also started to work hard, saying, "A new menu has been created."
At Suzuran, the "Katsu Brothers" were created, and at another store, the demi-katsu don was born.
There was also a store that made spicy fried chicken and kimchi-flavored fried chicken.
The entire cafeteria gradually became more interesting.
Interview with Ishii Yumi
Ishii, the manager of one of the cafeterias in the facility, "Suzuran."
She spoke with a smile that made even the interviewer grin.
Impactful Menu Created as Store Manager
Have you been a store manager for a long time?
Ishii
I became the store manager two years ago (2020).
I am the second generation.
When the previous manager was running the store, it was focused on bento and curry.
After I became the manager, I added ramen to the curry that was already being served.
At that time, I thought it would be interesting to have one eye-catching menu item, so I decided to create a katsu curry ramen.
It's the most expensive menu item, but surprisingly, it gets ordered a lot.
As I get older, katsu tends to weigh on my stomach, but for some reason, I can eat it when it's in ramen.
I was surprised at how large the katsu was. I think 870 yen for this volume is cheap.
I want people to eat a lot.
Since people spend money on boats, I try to keep the prices as low as possible.
"Attracting Luck" Curry
What is the most popular menu item?
Ishii
It's the katsu curry.
It's popular among all demographics.
After all, many people want to bring good fortune.
Someone from the official Twitter of Boat Race Kojima saw a person who ate the store's curry and won a boat ticket and said, "It's the Attracting Luck Curry."
I quickly made a handwritten sign and promoted it as the officially recognized Attracting Luck Curry.
At one point, I tweeted that "Okoyama resident comedian Akiyoshi Nagasaki is being filmed" on the store's social media.
I have been a fan of Nagasaki-san for a long time.
Boat Race Kojima has a program on Kurashiki Cable Television called "Hanamaru PARK Kojima DE Asobōto." The performer is Okoyama resident comedian Akiyoshi Nagasaki.
Then, someone from Kurashiki Cable Television saw my tweet and introduced me to Nagasaki-san.
I thought, wishes can come true.
When he came to the store for filming, he saw the Attracting Luck Curry and said, "Please create a collaboration curry with our television."
I immediately created a collaboration curry.
Win-Win Menu and Services Born from Ingenuity
The collaboration curry is the "Dam Curry," right? What is the background behind its creation?
Ishii
The chicken curry that we originally offered is labeled as spicy.
It's delicious, but spicy doesn't appeal to everyone.
Unlike the beef curry, which is consistently ordered, the chicken curry's sales vary from day to day.
If we adjust to the days it sells, we end up with food waste, and if we reduce it, we run out.
There are also strong fans of chicken curry, so we can't eliminate it.
So, I got the idea from my child who has two types of curry at home, and I decided to offer it alongside the popular beef curry.
We are also taking measures against food waste, providing salad service on weekdays during the final day of races.
Salads tend to be leftover.
But if we provide it as a service, customers will be happy, and we can avoid waste.
One race does not end in a day but takes place over several consecutive days.
A Store Nurtured by Customers
I thought I would promote it, so I handwrote "Attracting Luck Curry" on the signboard.
Then, customers started posting on social media, saying, "The sign is nice," and the number of followers increased.
Some people approached me after seeing the handwritten sign.
I was happy to make customers happy, and interactions were born.
I was told by customers that our shop is the only one where you can see the racecourse from inside.
So I thought I would promote that.
Since we have sweet curry, it's also good for families with children, I was told by customers.
Our shop is being nurtured by customers who teach us.
Ishii's Thoughts on Work
How do you want customers to enjoy your shop?
Ishii
I hope they can eat at a low price and leave feeling full.
Whether they win or lose at the boat races, I want them to think it was good to come to the racecourse.
I would be happy if they could think it was fun to visit a shop they got to know through social media, rather than just gambling.
With the establishment of a fan service team and Yokota's encouragement, the shops in the venue are gradually changing.
Thanks to Yokota's efforts, there is now a flow to liven things up more than ever.
Seeing various shops come up with new menus makes me happy too.
We are continuously trying new initiatives, all heading in the same direction together, and it's really fun.
Is there anything you are particularly mindful of?
Ishii
I always work with a smile. I want others to smile.
It's too late to smile only after the other person smiles.
First, I have to smile.
On my days off, I visit power spots and go mountain climbing.
I want to become someone who attracts happiness.
I think it would be nice if I could attract happiness and make those around me happy.
I hope for good things, like winning boat tickets or having good experiences.
Conclusion
After listening to Yokota from Kurashiki City and Ishii from Suzuran, I learned that they are focusing on gourmet food as well as the races.
Through the two of them, who are making efforts to please customers, I became even more interested in boat gourmet.
At Boat Race Kojima, there are three main types of gourmet: cafeteria, shop, and food stalls.
In this article, I could only introduce three out of five cafeterias.
I have a feeling there are still many delicious menus to discover.
It may be surprising, but you can enjoy the food without gambling.
However, please note that even if you come just for the gourmet, the entrance fee of 100 yen is required.
If you are interested, please go enjoy the boat gourmet.
Articles about Boat Race Kojima
Data on Boat Race Kojima
| Name | Boat Race Kojima |
|---|---|
| Address | 6-3 Motohama-cho, Kojima, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-472-5051 |
| Parking | Available |
| Business Hours | ■ Boat Race Venue 9:45 AM to 5:00 PM * Hours may vary depending on race times ■ Cafeteria Varies by store ■ Shop Open from venue opening until 4:00 PM |
| Regular Holidays | Irregular holidays |
| Payment Methods |
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| Restrooms | Western-style toilets, Japanese-style toilets, barrier-free toilets |
| Childcare | Nursing room, diaper changing station, stroller rental |
| Barrier-Free | Ramps, barrier-free toilets, elevators, wheelchair rental |
| Website | Boat Race Kojima |
