G.O.A.T. — A restaurant bar where young people can have fun. Get the party going with darts, games, and karaoke!

Interview with G.O.A.T owner Tetsu Miyazaki

We spoke with G.O.A.T owner Tetsu Miyazaki about the origin of the restaurant's name, the story behind opening it, and his plans for the future.

The name came from a rebellious spirit toward those around him

First, could you tell us how you came up with the name “G.O.A.T”?

Miyazaki

After graduating from university in Tokyo, I worked as a consultant at a consulting firm in Tokyo.
But I left that company and opened this place.

At the time, people around me said things like, “It’s foolish to quit a big company” and “You’re an idiot to give up a stable job,” and made all sorts of cold remarks.

That’s exactly why I started this place with the thought, “Even a fool like me can work hard and show them what I’m made of.”

“GOAT” means “goat” in English.
At the same time, GOAT is a slang word for a fool or an idiot.

So, as an act of defiance toward the people who criticized me for leaving my job, I deliberately chose GOAT, meaning fool or idiot, as the name.

“G.O.A.T” also stands for “The Greatest Of All Time.”
It means “the greatest of all time.”

So the name also carries the idea of “a fool aiming to become the greatest of all time.”

There are periods between the letters in “G.O.A.T,” right?
Since opening, we’ve been adding a dot to the “GOAT” lettering on the sign out front each time we achieve one of our goals.

We had three goals, and we’ve achieved two of them, so there are two dots now.

Actually, we achieved our third goal the other day, so we’ll be adding the third dot soon.

Then it’ll be “G.O.A.T”!
I guess we’ll finally be at the starting line.

He wanted to create a place in Kurashiki where young people could have fun

What made you decide to open the restaurant?

Miyazaki

After leaving the consulting firm, I worked a few different jobs, then trained at a chicken restaurant in Tokyo.
When I finished my training there, I returned to my hometown of Kurashiki and started GOAT.

I’d wanted to run a restaurant ever since I was a student.

I spent my student years and my time at the consulting firm in Tokyo, but whenever I came back to Kurashiki, I felt there weren’t many places where young people could have fun late into the night.

Now that I’ve returned to Kurashiki, I realize that I really do love this city.

When I was little, there were lots of places to go for fun in Kurashiki.
But as an adult, there aren’t many places to go.

I started wanting to do something about that and bring some life to Kurashiki.

That’s how I came to want to create a fun restaurant in my hometown—a place everyone would want to visit together.

Kurashiki has lots of great places to eat.
So I decided to focus on “fun.”

I went to all kinds of places in Tokyo, and thought a place like a darts bar would be nice. I wanted to create a “fun space” where people could play darts.

And it’s not just darts—you can also sing karaoke.
We have table games like UNO and The Game of Life, too.

G.O.A.T is an “adult playground” where everyone can enjoy themselves over food and drinks!

Why did you choose Ichibangai?

Miyazaki

Because there was a redevelopment plan.

Since we wanted to create a place for young people to have fun, we wanted somewhere they could easily get to.
We figured young people would gather here once the redevelopment was complete, so Ichibangai seemed like a good choice.

As it happened, a real estate agent introduced us to this property, and we decided to open here.

Becoming the head of an organization for the first time was challenging—but fun, too

Since opening the restaurant, have you found anything particularly challenging?

Miyazaki

I don’t think I’m suited to working in an organization.
I’m not good at being told what to do by people above me…

I’m the type who wants to do things freely, on my own terms.
That’s one reason I opened this place.

Since opening, I’ve been doing everything on my own, freely.

But recently, I hired staff as well.
We also opened a second location in Mizushima.

For the first time, I found myself in a position to give instructions as the head of an organization.

Now that I’m actually in that position, I really feel how challenging it is and how much responsibility it carries.
There’s so much to think about and so many people to look after, so it’s really tough…

But it’s fun in its own way.

Opening a restaurant is just the first step. He wants to take on various kinds of work in the future

Could you tell us about your plans for the future and your thoughts about the local community?

Miyazaki

Kurashiki still doesn’t have many places where young adults can have fun.
But I think we shouldn’t leave it to other people—we need to build up our hometown ourselves, with young people taking the lead.

I feel that people my age and younger generations lack energy right now.
I’m running this place because I hope I can set an example for people my age and those younger than me.

I’m not set on sticking to the restaurant business, either.
For me, a restaurant is just a stepping stone.
I see it as the first step toward starting a business.

If there are fields I’m interested in or areas where the community needs something, I want to keep taking them on.

There are already a few fields I’d like to try, and I’m thinking about all sorts of things.

From the Writer

G.O.A.T is a place young people created for young people.

It stays open late, so you can lose track of time and enjoy yourself.

When you’re young, you want to share fun times with your friends, after all.

G.O.A.T is the perfect place for that.

Why not visit with your friends and have a great time playing darts, singing karaoke, and enjoying games?

G.O.A.T data

Name	G.O.A.T
Address	3-10-6 Achi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture
Contact	086-424-5010
Parking	None
Hours	7:00 p.m.–3:00 a.m.
Closed	Irregular holidays
Payment methods	Cash Credit cards
Reservations	Accepted By phone or in person
Seating	16–30 seats Table seating can be rearranged
Smoking	Smoking permitted
Restroom	Western-style toilet
Families	Strollers allowed Children’s tableware available
Accessibility	Wheelchair accessible
Website	G.O.A.T Official Instagram

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