Interview with Representative Akiba Yuichi and Manager Tamaoka Ayata
With its hearty burgers, carefully crafted espresso coffee, and appealing events, Cafe&Bar KAG (Cafe & Bar KAG) has plenty to offer.
We interviewed Akiba Yuichi, president and CEO of Kurabiz Co., Ltd., which operates the cafe, and Tamaoka Ayata, KAG’s manager.
Creating a place where visitors to Kurashiki and local residents can connect
Could you tell us how the business got started?
Akiba (honorific omitted)
The building where KAG is now located originally housed a long-established inn called Okuma Ryokan.
But it closed down, and the premises remained vacant for a long time.
Okuma Ryokan was in a prime location in front of JR Kurashiki Station, and it was also in a shopping district called Ichibangai.
Ichibangai is a place where the local way of life in Kurashiki remains strongly rooted.
Kurashiki, on the other hand, is a tourist destination.
It is a place visited by all kinds of people for sightseeing, work, and other reasons.
That led to the idea of “creating a place where visitors to Kurashiki can experience the traditional local way of life, learn about local culture, and connect with local residents.”
And so KAG opened in April 2018.
The first floor began operating as a cafe by day and a bar at night.
The second and third floors opened as accommodation (a hostel).
However, when the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, the number of overnight guests dropped sharply.
When starting a new business, I always prepare a backup plan in advance.
As a measure to address the pandemic, we suspended the accommodation business and put into action a backup plan we had prepared in advance: moving our head office functions.
The second and third floors of KAG became the headquarters of Kurabiz.
We then focused on operating the cafe and bar on the first floor, and that is where things stand today.
KAG takes on new challenges in Kurashiki
Where did the name KAG come from?
Tamaoka (honorific omitted)
KAG is an acronym for Kurashiki Avant-Garde.
Avant-garde means “innovative.”
We chose the name to express the idea of “taking on new challenges in Kurashiki.”
What makes KAG distinctive?
Tamaoka
One thing is its location in front of Kurashiki Station, in Ichibangai.
It is easy to drop in, and the area retains its old-fashioned atmosphere.
Another is the events we hold.
The events we hold regularly seem to have become established, too.
We also get inquiries like, “I’d like to do something like this. Is it possible?” and we’re grateful for that.
A base for making Kurashiki a city the world can be proud of
Could you tell us how you feel about the city of Kurashiki?
Akiba
KAG came about because of Kurabiz’s feelings about the city of Kurashiki.
Rather than building a city by constructing buildings or improving roads, we want to develop the city by updating the ideas and perspectives of the people who live in or are involved with Kurashiki.
For example, companies and individuals recognize local issues, take action to address them, generate profits, and then channel those profits into activities that benefit society.
That would revitalize the city and surely make it a better place.
I also think this way of thinking connects with the roots of Kurashiki.
This is our approach to community development, and we operate KAG as one of the bases for these efforts.
In the future, we hope to make Kurashiki a city the world can be proud of.
Future outlook and challenges
Could you tell us about your future outlook and challenges?
Tamaoka
As the pandemic has eased, we’ve seen a considerable increase in customers at night.
I think more people have come to know us as a “night cafe.”
We also get many customers visiting as tourists, including people from overseas.
On the other hand, I feel we still have a long way to go when it comes to daytime customers.
So we think we need measures to attract more customers during the day.
For example, we could make it easier for local residents out walking their dogs to drop in casually.
We’re also considering making drinks and light meals easier to take out for people on their way to work or during their lunch break.
During the day, we’d like to try creating a place that is easy and convenient to use.
KAG: A place where local residents and visitors to Kurashiki can connect
Compared with the area north of Kurashiki Station, where a large shopping center stands; the southeast side of the station, with its large shopping district; and the area around the Bikan Historical Area, Ichibangai leaves a less vivid impression in central Kurashiki.
But Ichibangai is home to Kurashiki’s traditional way of life.
KAG is in this unpretentious part of Ichibangai.
KAG is a place where local residents can casually drop in.
There are few places in Kurashiki where local residents can connect with tourists and business travelers visiting the city.
We hope you’ll visit and enjoy our carefully crafted burgers, coffee made with an espresso machine, and alcoholic drinks.
We also recommend KAG to tourists who want to experience the deeper side of Kurashiki while traveling.
Why not experience the side of Kurashiki that you can only find at KAG?
Cafe & Bar KAG details
| Name | Cafe & Bar KAG |
|---|---|
| Address | 3-1-2 Achi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-441-8817 |
| Parking | None |
| Hours | 9:00 a.m.–midnight |
| Closed | Monday |
| Payment methods |
|
| Reservations | Accepted |
| Seating | 35 seats in total 35 seats ・3 tables seating four ・3 tables seating two (can be joined together) ・5 window-side counter seats ・5 counter seats by the register ・5 terrace counter seats ・2 terrace tables (round) |
| Smoking | Non-smoking (smoking permitted only in designated areas) |
| Restroom | Western-style toilet |
| Families with children | Strollers allowed Children’s plates available |
| Accessibility | Ramp Wheelchair accessible |
What would you like to know about Kurashiki?
Enter a word to search articles on this site
