Interview with Mr. Tanaka, Area Manager of Kurashiki Udon Bukkake-an Furuiti
I asked Mr. Tanaka, the area manager, about his thoughts on the products and the store.
Can you tell us about the history of the store?
Tanaka
Furuiti was founded in 1948.
The founder, Hiroshi Furuiti, started as a peddler of ice candies, which was different from what it is today.
At that time, selling ice candies for 5 yen each marked the beginning of Furuiti's history.
Hiroshi Furuiti was adopted into the Furuiti family, but originally his family was engaged in the business of milling wheat and producing dried noodles in Mabi.
Since his family dealt with wheat and could procure it, he then started baking buns.
These buns reportedly had a big breakthrough in the 1970s. It was a boom not just for Furuiti, but all over Japan.
From there, they began offering ramen and okonomiyaki, and eventually started serving udon.
At one point, the founder Hiroshi Furuiti ordered the current chairman Ryoichi Furuiti to make udon while they were playing mahjong.
Chairman Ryoichi placed the udon in a bowl for easier mahjong play, topped it with ingredients, and poured sauce over it.
After eating it, Hiroshi Furuiti reportedly said, "Let's commercialize this."
This was said to be the moment of the birth of "bukkake."
What was the background for the opening of "Kurashiki Udon Bukkake-an Furuiti"?
Tanaka
The opening date is November 20, 2023.
Until now, Furuiti has been more of a daily food closely related to everyday life.
However, "Kurashiki Udon Bukkake-an Furuiti" operates in the Bikan Historical Area, so it is conscious of tourists. I want them to enjoy delicious udon in a nice atmosphere and feel Kurashiki.
The interior has a traditional house renovation style, but it is designed to evoke a sense of nostalgia even for first-time visitors.
I hope that dining at "Kurashiki Udon Bukkake-an Furuiti" becomes one of the memories of their trip.
Additionally, I want to leave a strong impact on customers with the udon, so we serve it in Bizen ware.
I want them to enjoy the food, including the dishes, and feel Kurashiki and Okayama.
Can you tell us about your recommended menu items?
Mr. Tanaka
Personally, I recommend the "Wagyu Shabu-shabu Meat Bukkake."
With this dish, customers can shabu-shabu the meat themselves and finish the meat bukkake.
Making it enjoyable is part of the experience.
I think Wagyu is very valuable for those coming to Japan from overseas.
Alongside sushi, soba, and tempura, Wagyu is very important in representing Japanese food culture. We went through various trial and error to arrive at this.
Normally, when making meat bukkake, it is cooked together with the sauce. However, that made the meat too good, and the flavor balance didn't work well.
So, we arrived at shabu-shabu.
By using shabu-shabu, we can properly reduce the fat, making it delicious when added to the udon. Additionally, the tenderness of the Wagyu can be fully appreciated.
As a result, serving it as shabu-shabu turned out to be the most delicious way.
Do you have any future plans?
Tanaka
I want to make "Kurashiki Udon Bukkake-an Furuiti" known to many people.
If customers come, it will surely become a good memory of Kurashiki, including the store, the food, and the atmosphere. To achieve that, I am currently working hard on marketing studies.
On my days off, I often eat noodles, including udon and ramen.
Conclusion
"Kurashiki Udon Bukkake-an Furuiti" opened on November 20, 2023.
While the traditional Furuiti has been a store closely tied to daily life, Bukkake-an Furuiti is extraordinary. The traditional house-style interior and the dishes served in Bizen ware will surely become unforgettable memories of Kurashiki.
Of course, for udon lovers, I encourage anyone visiting Kurashiki to stop by if they have the chance.
Data on Kurashiki Udon Bukkake-an Furuiti
| Name | Kurashiki Udon Bukkake-an Furuiti |
|---|---|
| Address | 2-1-16 Chuo, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-435-3900 |
| Parking | No There is a municipal parking lot nearby |
| Business Hours | 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM |
| Regular Holidays | Irregular holidays |
| Payment Methods |
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| Reservations | Accepted |
| Seating | 26 seats on the first floor, 48 seats on the second floor |
| Smoking | Non-smoking (smoking allowed only in designated areas) |
| Toilet | Western-style toilet |
| Website | Kurashiki Udon Bukkake-an Furuiti |
