Interview with Makiko Ohmoto, the producer
Cafe Cascade, located in the Bikan Historical Area, is easily accessible within walking distance from JR Kurashiki Station.
It is a shop that is easy for both tourists and locals to use.
We spoke with Makiko Ohmoto, the producer of the wisteria-themed Cafe Cascade.
Background of establishing the store
Why did you decide to open a new store?
Ohmoto (honorifics omitted)
Cafe LINES, located in Funakuracho, Kurashiki City, was set to close for relocation.
While Cafe LINES, which also served as a wedding venue, is being transformed into a new venue called "Chateau de Feliccion," scheduled to open in September 2022, we established Cascade as a sister store.
Even after the new store opens, Cascade will continue its operations.
Why did you choose this location for the store?
Ohmoto
The president was looking for a location unique to Kurashiki, and we found a very atmospheric kura (traditional storehouse) building in the Bikan Historical Area, a representative tourist spot of Kurashiki, and it was such a wonderful property that we decided to go with it.
That’s when I became the producer.
Initially, we were not planning to run a café, and there was a possibility it would become a select shop for souvenirs.
However, since it is a great location with a museum and a bus stop nearby, I suggested, "How about making it a vibrant café and serving afternoon tea?"
One of the reasons was that the Kurashiki Afternoon Tea has been growing as a content in Kurashiki. I thought it would be enjoyable for both locals and tourists.
At the closed "Cafe LINES," we provided Kurashiki Afternoon Tea.
The store is very close to JR Kurashiki Station, making it easily accessible, and there is a bus parking lot nearby.
People using the parking lot gather in the vacant space between Cascade and the Kurashiki International Hotel.
I hope that those waiting for the bus or heading to the station can use this place as a "power café" while waiting for the next train.
What is a power café?
Ohmoto
Every seat has a power outlet.
When travelers say, "My smartphone battery is dead," they can charge it right away.
I hope it becomes a place where people can enjoy sweets while charging and share travel memories.
Since I am always looking for power cafés, I thought it would be good to have one here, so I installed it.
When considering running a café, I was always thinking, "It needs to have some unique features."
Achi Shrine has wisteria over 500 years old, and wisteria is the city flower of Kurashiki.
I noticed that there are symbols representing wisteria flowers all over the main street and thought, "That's it! Let's create a café filled with wisteria flowers!"
Recently, botanical cafés have been trending in urban areas and are popular on social media, so I decided to make it a botanical flower café.
By decorating the interior with lots of wisteria, it looks like a waterfall of flowers flowing down from above, which is why I named it Cascade (translated: waterfall). The meaning is a cascade of flowers.
The Nishikiya Group primarily focuses on bridal services, and the long vertical bouquet that brides hold is called a "cascade" in the industry.
Since it has the meaning of "flower," I thought it would be fitting to use "cascade" directly in the store name.
I grew up in Kurashiki, but I have only seen the wisteria in Achi once or twice.
Flowers have their seasons, so I tend to miss them.
However, here, flowers bloom all year round, so you can enjoy "flower viewing" while having lunch or tea at any time.
The concept of Wisteria is very characteristic of Kurashiki, and I think it will become a new spot in Kurashiki.
Cascade inherits the genes of LINES
Inside the store, the genes of LINES are still present.
This umbrella chandelier was in the lobby of LINES, and the chairs were used in the chapel.
To enhance the colors of the flowers, the interior is kept in white and gray.
The Wisteria is displayed in different colors for each area: purple, lavender, pink, and mixed.
Also, this was unexpected, but customers often ask, "Is this from Demon Slayer?" (laughs).
In the manga "Demon Slayer," the "Oni" (demon) dislikes Wisteria flowers.
The interior is themed as a "photo spot from any seat," creating a healing space where flowers bloom all year round.
The exterior is a kura (traditional storehouse), which is quite retro, isn't it?
If it is too clean, the wonderful atmosphere will disappear, so I intentionally utilize the retro feel, creating a botanical look by attaching small branches to make a flower gate.
Ohmoto's favorite and carefully crafted menu
Please tell us about the restaurant's signature menu.
Ohmoto
French toast and ricotta cheese pancakes.
Originally, these two were part of the Kurashiki Afternoon Tea menu, but they became part of the grand menu due to their popularity.
So they were added to the menu because they were popular. Why did you incorporate these items into the afternoon tea menu in the first place?
Ohmoto
Because I often ate them with friends when I had tea in Tokyo, and I liked them.
The contents of the afternoon tea are mostly things I want to eat!
I supervise everything from taste to appearance.
The afternoon tea is designed to be cute enough to be enjoyable just by looking at it, but I believe it must also be truly delicious, not just visually appealing.
I always design it while closely consulting with a bridal patissier who usually makes wedding cakes and gifts.
To avoid getting bored while eating, I ensure that the sweets on the three-tier cake stand have different levels of sweetness for everyone to enjoy.
Why do you offer vegan curry?
Ohmoto
Currently, veganism is trending worldwide.
I have a café called Seed of Life in Okayama, where I serve vegan curry and Buddha bowls.
Buddha bowls are vegan dishes that allow you to enjoy vegetables with various seasonings and cooking methods. It is said that the name comes from the way the piled vegetables resemble Buddha's belly.
Since there was a positive response to vegan dishes at Seed of Life, I decided to offer vegan curry at Cascade as well.
The roux is made without meat, fish, or animal products, using a broth made from over ten kinds of vegetables, seasoned with spices.
My main profession is voice acting, but at one point, I realized that what I eat can slightly change my consciousness.
I can become aggressive or feel calm. My mood changes.
When I thought about it, food is like receiving another life into myself, so it’s not surprising that what I put into my body affects my consciousness.
When I perform a role, I need to be in a neutral state, as close to zero as possible, so that the soul of the character can come down smoothly. If I have personal distractions, I can't get deeply into it.
When I think about what I ate when I was able to concentrate and give my best performance, I realized it was after eating a lot of vegetables.
There have also been experiences where certain foods brought on anxiety and narrowed my perspective.
From such experiences, I arrived at "veganism."
I do eat meat, but before performing, I eat vegetable dishes to become neutral.
Thinking, "If I'm going to eat vegetables, I want them to be delicious!" I developed the menu at the café with things I want to eat and started offering them.
There are also meat dishes and fish lunches available.
Wisteria Blooming All Year Round
Ohmoto
I really love being in nature and looking at flowers.
Flowers have a kind of "flower energy," don't you think? They have an open, liberating power that spreads outward.
Colors also have psychological effects, and when I see bright and vibrant colors, I feel more open and positive.
Being in touch with nature makes me feel centered.
When my mental state drops, I can't perform well, and that's the same for actors and businessmen, right?
At such times, when I go to see the flowers, my mood brightens up immediately.
I hope Cascade can become a place where people can feel as if they are enjoying cherry blossom viewing.
It also has a healing effect, and I think you can enjoy the photogenic elements as well.
About the Future
How do you want customers to spend their time here?
Ohmoto
There is a town abroad filled with wisteria flowers. The entrance and windows are covered with wisteria flowers, and it is very beautiful.
I got inspiration from that, thinking how wonderful it would be to spend every day in such a place.
When you are tired from work or meeting someone important, I hope you can come here feeling like you are going to enjoy cherry blossom viewing, seeing the full bloom of flowers, and having a delicious lunch or sweets while enjoying a relaxing time.
Wisteria also goes well with kimono.
It has been designed to be photogenic from anywhere in the store, so I would like you to find your favorite angle and take photos.
Please tell us your future goals.
Ohmoto
I would like to increase the menu a bit more. I am thinking of adding light sweets and snacks as well.
I also plan to increase the number of flowers.
In the fall of 2022, a new venue called "Chateau de Felicite" will open.
When there are no weddings, I plan to offer lunch and afternoon tea at the café.
I hope many people will enjoy both Cascade and Chateau de Felicite.
In my main profession, this year (2022) marks the 30th anniversary of Kirby, and the new game "Kirby and the Forgotten Land" will be released on March 25, 2022. There will also be a festival in the summer, so I want to do my best to make sure everyone enjoys that too!
Ohmoto is the voice actor for "Kirby" in the "Kirby" series.
Conclusion
Cascade, adorned with wisteria flowers, embodies the essence of Kurashiki, filled with the owner's, Ohmoto's, dedication and favorite things.
I want to capture everything—the food, the sweets, and the interior—in photos.
There are various ways to use it, whether for a break between sightseeing or spending time with someone special, or even charging your smartphone.
Isn't it nice to relax while enjoying delicious food in a place where every corner is photogenic?
