Interview with mug's manager, Chiba Kenta
If you want to relax in Tamashima, mug is an indispensable presence.
We spoke with Chiba Kenta, the manager of mug, about the background of opening the café, his commitments, future aspirations, and things he wants to try.
What was the background for starting mug?
Chiba
Before starting mug, I worked at a café in Okayama's Tōyama-cho.
Actually, the reason I chose that shop was not so much because I wanted to run a café, but because I admired cafés that were involved with music.
I have always loved music and was interested in planning music events.
At the café, I was in charge of planning and managing music events, while also learning the know-how of running a café.
Wanting to do more with music, I even planned my own music events.
After working at the café for a while, I worked for a major music company, and then returned to the café.
At that time, I worked at a shop in a place I admired, the Bikan Historical Area in Kurashiki.
So it was music that was the trigger! What genre of music do you like?
Chiba
I guess acoustic music.
I don't perform myself, but I used to DJ to select music.
However, I DJed to liven up the events, and originally, I prefer relaxed acoustic music.
So, I have asked the bands I invited to perform acoustically.
And I thought it would be nice to do that at our place (mug) as well.
Why did you choose to open a shop in Tamashima?
Chiba
Before it became mug, there was already a restaurant here, a place involved with music.
That was a big reason for deciding on this location.
Did someone approach you when the shop became available?
Chiba
A friend asked me, "There's a bar where you can do music, but do you know anyone who might want to take it over?" and that prompted me to go check it out.
At that time, I had no intention of becoming independent from the café.
But when I visited the shop, the location was great.
I don't know why, but when I said, "I'll do it!" everything started to fall into place.
Nearby, there are Kurashiki Sakuyo University, known for its music, and Kurashiki University of Science and the Arts, where students study the arts.
I thought that if I opened a shop here, it would become a place for young students to present their work, and I hope they will plan and hold events themselves.
Have you actually held events planned by students?
Chiba
In the early days after opening, we often held student-organized events.
It must have been fun for the students to organize their own events.
By planning and creating together, even if they didn't do well at first, I hope they learned how to do it here and eventually hold events at other places.
Subtle attention to BGM
I heard you pay attention to the BGM.
Chiba
I change the music according to the time of day.
In the morning, I try to play songs without vocals. There are many that include natural sounds.
During the day, I choose lively and bright pop music.
Then from evening to night, I play calm songs, and at night, I often play moody pieces with brass instruments.
I want to support local artists, so I sometimes play their songs as well.
A shop created with artists
When you think of mug, you have the image of illustrations of girls. It's also part of the logo, right?
Chiba
That's right. I had a chalk artist from Osaka draw it for us.
It seems that they had never drawn large chalk art before, but they took on the challenge.
Since it's chalk, it can be erased, but now it has become the symbol of the shop, so it can't be erased anymore.
mug is gradually being built up.
When we first opened, the shop really had nothing.
But the reason there was nothing in the shop was intentional; I wanted to display the works of artists I met while running the café.
The merchandise, such as accessories in the shop, is also like that. I was asked by creators I met here, "Can we display our work?" and it gradually increased.
I want customers to make new "discoveries" when they visit us.
For example, I want them to discover where this dried flower is from.
How do you want to develop the shop in the future?
Chiba
Of course, I want to focus on music, but I also want to pay attention to food.
I want to provide handmade dishes using local ingredients as much as possible.
I love Okayama and Kurashiki, and I want to promote Kurashiki, and I think that by using local products, I can PR that "Okayama has delicious food."
Actually, I love going to roadside stations.
The vegetables at roadside stations are labeled with where they were harvested, but I also research the farms and producers.
And I sometimes handle those vegetables. I want customers to enjoy more delicious ingredients from Okayama.
The peaches used in the Kurashiki Afternoon Tea were also sourced from a young person who started a peach orchard in Tamashima, and I decided to handle them because I wanted to support him.
It might be difficult to focus on everything, but I want to be specific about what I focus on.
Can the shop be reserved for private events?
Chiba
Yes, we do private reservations. You can use the space freely!
It is often used for dining parties and celebrations.
There are course meals available, so it is often used in combination with all-you-can-drink options.
We also have a projector, so you can hold briefings and presentations.
I hope it can be used for various purposes.
You can reserve for about 10 people, so please consult with us.
Please tell us your future aspirations.
Chiba
I want to continue to handle music events, support local artists, and create a café that focuses on food.
Recently, I welcomed an employee who has experience working at a bakery. I hope to develop menus with him and eventually offer bread as well.
I want to put more effort into both events and menus.
Conclusion
At first glance, mug has a warm and cute atmosphere, but it is not just a place for lunch or coffee.
Sometimes, it hosts music events and supports and promotes artists.
When you visit the shop, please try to find the works of artists scattered throughout the place.
I look forward to the future evolution of mug, which is being built together with the people I meet at the shop.
Data on mug
| Name | mug |
|---|---|
| Address | 439-3 Tsuzaki, Tamashima, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture, 1F Shin-Kurashiki Inoue Building |
| Contact | 086-523-5150 |
| Parking | Available Shared parking for 5 cars |
| Business Hours | 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM (last order at 5:00 PM) *Nighttime operations are only for private reservations and music events |
| Regular Holidays | Thursday Every Thursday and the third Wednesday |
| Payment Methods |
|
| Reservation Availability | Yes |
| Seating | 18 seats, Number of sofas: 1, Number of counters: 4, Number of tables: 5 |
| Smoking | Completely non-smoking |
| Toilet | Western-style toilet |
| Website | mug: Facebook |
