A tourist spot unique to Kojima, known as the holy land of domestically produced jeans, is Kojima Jeans Street. It is a sightseeing destination lined with unique shops, including local jeans manufacturers, select shops, and coffee stands.
In 2023, a tourist lounge themed around denim, called Denim Lodge, opened on Kojima Jeans Street. Furthermore, in 2025, the first accommodation facility on Kojima Jeans Street, Denim Lodge Nest, will also start at the same location. Staff from Kojima will suggest ways to enjoy Kojima Jeans Street from a local perspective, making it a new hub for interaction.
The facility is operated by Garakutasu LLC (hereinafter referred to as "Garakutasu").
As a company that produces and brands various fields under the motto "The Company that Proposes 'Fun'," Garakutasu is a Kojima-based enterprise. Young employees with a passion for community development are active at Garakutasu.
Let me introduce Garakutasu's young employee, Kuromyo Tatsuki.
About Garakutasu LLC
Garakutasu LLC was established in 2001 as a planning and production company for IT and design.
The "Garakuta" in the company name refers to what is commonly known as "meaningless things." The name "Garakutasu" was given with the hope of breathing life into these items and creating new "Garakuta" that are loved by someone.
At Garakutasu, they utilize their proposal capabilities that combine IT and design to support system efficiency and new business development across various industries, providing productions tailored to the client's objectives.
Currently, they are mainly engaged in the following businesses.
- IT and Design
Total direction from IT support for business and services to planning, design production, and system construction - Apparel
Planning, design, manufacturing, and sales of apparel products - Food Laboratory
Food development, OEM services, product commercialization support, and digitization of food manufacturing processes - Renovation and Real Estate
Real estate introduction, renovation planning, and relocation advice for corporations and individuals
Under the belief that "The work field belongs to no one," they are involved in a wide range of fields and receive consultations and requests from various industries.
Additionally, Garakutasu has a variety of in-house content that is also appealing. They apply the know-how gained from the following in-house content to customer projects.
- Minshoku
A lifestyle magazine and platform that enriches daily life through food - 8 by Setoiro
A soup bar with a menu featuring local ingredients, themed around the Setouchi region - T-Shirt COGP
A high-quality original T-shirt creation service by skilled print masters - Denim Lodge & Denim Lodge Nest
A tourist lounge themed around denim and the only accommodation facility on Kojima Jeans Street
Among these, let me introduce the "Denim Lodge," which is operated mainly by young employee Kuromyo.
Tourist Lounge "Denim Lodge" on Kojima Jeans Street
The Denim Lodge is a tourist lounge (time-limited rest area) for visitors to Kojima Jeans Street that opened in 2023.
It is said to be the world's first tourist lounge themed around denim, and the facility is decorated with items made from denim fabric. Pamphlets from local jeans manufacturers are also available, creating an irresistible space for apparel enthusiasts.
Among the customers using Denim Lodge, some start strategy meetings on which jeans to buy while taking a break.
In March 2025, the first accommodation facility on Kojima Jeans Street, Denim Lodge Nest, also opened at the same facility. As the only guesthouse where you can stay on Kojima Jeans Street, it attracts visitors from overseas as well.
It is a unique community space where you can not only enjoy shopping but also discover new ways to enjoy Kojima Jeans Street.
Kuromyo Tatsuki, who handles everything from the operation of "Denim Lodge" to creative work
The operation and management of Denim Lodge is handled by Kuromyo Tatsuki. Born in 2000 and raised in Kojima, he is the youngest employee at Garakutasu.
About Kuromyo's job
Kuromyo has two main responsibilities.
The first is the operation and management of Denim Lodge.
He is responsible for administrative tasks such as customer service, inventory management, and shift scheduling, as well as planning to promote Denim Lodge through branding and marketing.
Kuromyo has been involved with Denim Lodge since its establishment and was also the one who named it. He aims to promote the charm of this region from a different angle than apparel, amidst the many manufacturers lining Kojima Jeans Street.
The second is website production.
Kuromyo has been interested in CG production and other creative work since before joining the company and learned it independently. He began serious design work after joining Garakutasu.
As of 2025, in his third year with the company, Kuromyo has produced eight websites. He also designed the reservation site for Denim Lodge Nest.
Although he faced many challenges at first, he mentioned, "Design can be covered by knowledge and skills, and many things can be explained logically, which makes it interesting."
Encounter with Garakutasu
Kuromyo previously worked in an industrial job in Tokyo.
In 2023, he returned to Kojima, where he had lived for many years, and while looking for a new job in Kojima, he was introduced to Garakutasu by an acquaintance.
At that time, he had been engaging in CG and design as a hobby.
He was attracted to the environment at Garakutasu, where he could challenge himself in a wide range of fields without being restricted by job types or industries, and decided to join the company.
For the first few months, he worked part-time as a trial period and later joined as a full-time employee. His first job as an employee was to present at a subsidy application review meeting for the Denim Lodge project.
When asked, "Weren't you nervous about such a big job on your first day?" he replied with a smile, "I had been involved in the Denim Lodge project since the trial period, so I was able to complete it without feeling rushed."
What is the charm of Garakutasu from Kuromyo's perspective?
Kuromyo believes the charm of Garakutasu lies in its environment, where young employees can challenge themselves without worrying about hierarchy.
Because it is a small but elite company, there is an atmosphere where employees can easily communicate, and young employees often have many opportunities to have their autonomy respected.
For example, at their soup bar "8 by setoiro", they offer homemade bagels. These bagels were also created by a young employee in their 20s.
According to Kuroaki, not only are they encouraged to take on challenges, but they also receive proper follow-up. Garakutas has many employees with expertise and specialized fields, so receiving support from such individuals is reassuring.
Additionally, the business development that is characteristic of Garakutas, which is not confined to a specific work field, allows them to "acquire a variety of proposal skills," they say.
Being able to propose from various perspectives, transcending industry boundaries, is appealing not only to the service recipients but also to the employees.
Kuroaki, who joined Garakutas, is entering their third year in 2025. They shared their thoughts on the joy of working in a representative tourist spot in Kojima and the charm of the Kojima and Ajino area.
Data of Garakutas Co., Ltd.
| Organization Name | Garakutas Co., Ltd. |
|---|---|
| Industry | Total planning and production based on IT and design planning Food manufacturing, OEM services / Apparel manufacturing and sales, etc. |
| Representative Name | Nakano Mikio |
| Year Established | 2001 |
| Address | 4034-4 Ajino, Kojima, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 070-6649-0930 |
| Website | Official Website of Garakutas Co., Ltd. |
