Interview with the master of "COFFEE HOUSE Gojitoma," Takamoto Haruhide
The reason for starting a coffee shop
Please tell us the reason you started a coffee shop in Mabi.
Takamoto
During my university days, I worked part-time at a long-established coffee shop "Tsukiji" in Kyoto and spent my days going to "Inoda Coffee" and the cinema.
I somehow graduated from university and was living by working part-time at a coffee shop without getting a full-time job.
When I returned to my hometown of Mabi, I got married to Yumiko, whom I met through an acquaintance, and went to greet her parents.
Then, her parents asked me, "How are you going to support our daughter?"
That makes sense, as I was living a life similar to what we now call a freeter.
So, I blurted out, "I will support her by running a coffee shop!" (laughs)
From there, I couldn't back out, and one month after getting married, I opened "COFFEE HOUSE Gojitoma" in May 1980.
I was 27 years old at that time.
About 40 years since opening. The reason for continuing the coffee shop for so long
It will soon be 40 years since we opened.
Please tell us the secret to continuing the coffee shop for so long.
Takamoto
I guess it's about enduring poverty.
If you want to make money, you wouldn't start a coffee shop.
It's long hours of standing work from morning till night.
Many people who want to run a coffee shop have come to me, but I tell them, "You should probably not do it."
It's a mystery how I've been able to continue this long.
I think it’s because I had some "luck" and have been healthy until now.
Have there been any struggles or difficulties in continuing?
Takamoto
After the disaster (the July 2018 heavy rain), I felt the difficulty of continuing.
Since the disaster, I feel a sense of loss every morning.
There are times when I wonder, "Why am I continuing this coffee shop?"
But, I continue because I want to be of help to someone.
Reflections on the movie "Ikiru" that made me think about being of help to others
Takamoto
Actually, when I was 18 years old in 1971, I watched Akira Kurosawa's movie "Ikiru" and thought, "I want to run a coffee shop someday."
This movie is about a protagonist who, while doing bureaucratic work and living each day somewhat aimlessly, receives a terminal cancer diagnosis and struggles with his remaining time to create something meaningful.
He is inspired by the words "Why not create something?" and ends up creating a park.
In the end, I realized that simply spending money to satisfy my own desires is not enough, and people can only truly feel "alive" when they are of help to others.
As I age, I find that my wants have decreased, and I have developed a desire to be of help, so perhaps that’s all there is to it.
I want you to actually visit, see with your eyes, and feel with your brain
Gojitoma's music from the records played in the shop is also attractive, isn't it?
Please tell us about the charm and care of records compared to CDs.
Takamoto
CDs cut out sounds that are inaudible to the human ear.
The charm of LP records lies in the fact that the unnecessary sounds that are inaudible to the human ear are alive.
I believe that people can feel "emotion," "subtlety," and "a stylish atmosphere" from the parts that are inaudible to the ear.
The "painting" hanging on that wall may be recognized by the eye as just "a dandelion," but don't you feel something in the parts that are not painted?
The same goes for writing.
I believe people can feel something in the spaces between the letters.
My hobbies, such as watching movies and listening to music, are all a process of self-reflection.
I find that to be very interesting.
Young people today can easily see and learn about various things through social media, right?
However, I want you to make an effort to actually visit and see with your own eyes and feel with your brain.
You might think that time, money, and effort are wasted, but if you actually visit and look back later, you will surely think, "That was so much fun!"
About the fragrant, carefully selected coffee
Could you tell us about your commitment to coffee?
Takamoto
If there is even a slight intentional movement, the coffee is 100% ruined.
I believe that daily efforts are important so that the coffee can be brewed automatically when the switch is turned on.
Once, when I drank coffee made by my apprentice, 70% of it was empty space.
I have talked about how we need to fill that space.
Roasting coffee beans is also very difficult, and brewing roasted coffee well is challenging too.
Bringing out the goodness of coffee requires an enormous amount of effort and study.
I still have a long way to go.
Voices of regular customers that encouraged the reopening
What prompted you to think about reopening after the disaster in July 2018?
Takamoto
To be honest, I thought, "I can't reopen, it's difficult."
However, the regular customers who visit kept asking, "When will you reopen?"
So, the people around me were insisting on it (laughs)
I want to deliver a cup filled with gratitude that can help someone
Finally, could you share your thoughts about the future?
Takamoto
About the future... What do you think I should do?
I have become unsure and troubled, and I actually want to be taught.
So, I sometimes ask customers, "What do you think I should do?"
Most people say, "Just having a shop here (in Mabi) is enough."
So, I guess I have to continue.
If I lost my sense of gratitude, I would have closed this shop.
I now wonder what would have happened if I had lived a mundane life like before the disaster.
Although I faced many hardships due to the disaster, it made me think about various things.
Before the disaster, I never did it at all, but now it has become a daily routine to offer my prayers at the family altar every morning and to express gratitude for the people I met the day before.
Every day I am struck by a sense of loss, but it is my feelings of gratitude that allow me to continue the shop.
Not just us, but when I listen to the stories of the people who visit the shop, everyone is struggling and facing their own difficulties.
Seeing the coolness of the volunteers made me experience true kindness, and I thought I wanted to be like that, to brew and serve a cup that can help someone.
Conclusion
The conversations with the master, who playfully says "Eh~!" and listens with sparkling eyes while saying "Oh, really?" are endless and never boring.
The lovely couple who run this wonderful café are also my ideal couple.
While enjoying the coffee brewed by the master, who lives each day with gratitude despite daily struggles, I relax in the calm atmosphere of the shop.
I also recommend enjoying a chat with the master and his wife at the counter seats.
Why not actually visit and enjoy this relaxing and healing space?
Data for COFFEE HOUSE Gojitoma
| Name | COFFEE HOUSE Gojitoma |
|---|---|
| Address | 748-4 Ayata, Mabi-cho, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-698-6225 |
| Parking | Available 15 cars |
| Business Hours | Saturday, Sunday, Monday 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM |
| Regular Holidays | Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, National Holidays Please check the store's Facebook for business days. |
| Payment Methods |
|
| Reservations | Accepted |
| Seating | Counter: 5 seats, Table: 20 seats |
| Smoking | Non-smoking (smoking allowed only in designated areas) |
| Toilet | Western-style toilet |
| Website | Gojitoma |
