Interview with Shinji and Keiko
What inspired you to launch “Orange House Hokkori” in 2021?
Keiko (surname omitted)
This will take a little while, but let me explain in order.
If I go back to what started it all, it was 18 years ago, in 2005.
Our eldest son, who was in second grade at the time and had always been healthy, suddenly collapsed one day from a brain hemorrhage.
According to the doctors, he probably had a problem with a blood vessel in his brain from birth, but we had no idea until it happened...
As a result of the aftereffects, our eldest son developed mild intellectual and physical disabilities, and from that day on, we suddenly became parents of a child with disabilities.
That was the biggest turning point.
Rather than waiting, we take action ourselves
What led up to opening the cafe?
Keiko
When our eldest son was about to start junior high school, I joined the Konko Town Midori Association (a group for parents of children and adults with intellectual disabilities). *Hereafter, the Midori Association
As we began working together in the group, I started to see things in society that made me think, “It would be better for people with disabilities if things were more like this.”
We shared these thoughts individually and as the Midori Association, and even took them directly to the local government.
During that time, I had opportunities to talk with acquaintances about things like, “We wish we had this kind of welfare support,” and “We want to make Asakuchi City a better place.”
Our circle gradually grew, and we sometimes approached the issue together as citizens with the people who had gathered, but...
Eventually, we came to realize that things weren't going as we hoped and that it wasn't easy.
Ostomate toilet: A toilet with facilities designed for people who have had a stoma (an artificial opening for waste elimination) fitted due to illness or injury
When we asked, “So what should we do?” we decided, “Rather than waiting, let's start taking action on what we can do now.”
That led to the creation of an organization called “Tamariba Cafe” in Asakuchi City.
Tamariba Cafe is a place where people can easily connect, regardless of disability or age.
We wondered if people could improve their lives by connecting, talking, and interacting across different backgrounds.
We held the first and second Tamariba Cafe events as one-off gatherings at a Community Center, and the number of people we connected with gradually grew through these activities.
We were planning to hold the third one at Konko Library, but then the COVID-19 pandemic hit...
Our activities paused there for a while, but it would have been a shame to give up.
So we opened a cafe to start doing what we could ourselves.
Did you intend to open in the Otani area from the beginning?
Shinji (surname omitted)
At first, we weren't set on Otani.
As we took part in various groups in Konko Town and the Otani area and talked with people, we began to think this would be a good place.
When we told people at those gatherings, “This is what we want to do,” everyone was very welcoming.
We sensed there was a need, and there were also more and more vacant houses in Otani.
One day, our current landlord asked us, “The place that used to be a Shingu shop is vacant. Would you like to use it?”
We want everyone to use it, rather than putting people into categories
What kind of response have you had from neighbors and others since opening?
Keiko
People in the neighborhood have told us, “It's a place where we can confidently tell the children to go play or go eat.”
We're grateful.
Last summer, the Midori Association wanted to create an opportunity to connect with local people, so we held a small summer festival.
Many children who use after-school day services came, and we were able to put on a small event.
Some people joined the Midori Association as a result.
We don't have a huge influx of people, but we're gradually making connections with people, not just those in the neighborhood.
People come from all over Japan to worship at Konkokyo, and some who visited the cafe once have stopped by again on their next visit.
It's lovely to think that this has become a place where people can enjoy a pleasant time, chatting or leaving handmade items on display.
It started with our feelings about the Midori Association and Tamariba Cafe, but your connections have expanded.
Shinji
Yes.
It's not about drawing boundaries or putting people into categories; we want everyone to use it.
Keiko
For example, children with disabilities can't become friendly with people right away.
I think they can feel safe and find it easier to interact with people they meet here.
We also wondered if there was a way to connect even when people didn't happen to be here at the same time, so we created a corner where people can leave letters addressed to someone.
Recently, some customers have started writing replies, and it's beginning to take off.
As the manager, I do check the content before putting it out, just in case anything hurtful has been written, as part of the filter at Orange House Hokkori.
When I actually tried it, it turned out to benefit me the most
It's been about a year and a half since opening in 2021. How are you feeling now?
Keiko
Honestly, it's so much fun.
Shinji
It's fun.
Keiko
I feel that thanks to the cafe at Orange House Hokkori on Sundays, I can work with energy during the week, too.
At first, I thought, “I want to help someone,” but when I actually tried it, I realized it might be benefiting me the most.
Of course, I don't want to forget that many people's hopes and efforts have gone into getting us here.
I want to honor the hopes of the parents in the Midori Association, and I also want to make the projects Tamariba Cafe wants to do a reality.
How did your children react when you decided to start the cafe?
Shinji
They said, “Go for it.”
We have three children, and even during their difficult teenage years, we always made sure to eat dinner together.
At those times, I would say things like, “Someday, Dad wants to do something like this,” or “I'm going to Tamariba Cafe today.”
So I think they understood what their parents wanted to do and accepted it naturally.
Keiko
By the way, the omurice on the menu is my husband's specialty.
Our second son was allergic to eggs when he was little, but as he grew up, he became able to eat Takata eggs, and my husband would make them for him.
Our second son lives in Tokyo now, but when he came home, he made us taco rice, saying, “I can cook now, too.”
It was delicious, so we added it to the lunch menu.
Everything was a stepping stone leading to this
I imagine you must have gone through some very difficult times when your eldest son was suddenly struck by illness.
Keiko
Actually, we as parents haven’t done much at all.
We’ve been incredibly fortunate—probably more than most—to meet wonderful people through our teachers, people in the community, and the parents we’ve gotten to know through our children.
Even at our current cafe, I initially felt bad about asking the mother of our eldest son’s classmate, who helps out almost every week.
She tells me, “I come because it’s fun,” and I’m truly grateful that she’s helped us keep going.
Lately, I’ve been thinking, “Wow! We’ve been blessed with so many people so we could do this—everything was a stepping stone leading to this.”
At first, we were determined to do this or that and work really hard, but lately I’ve come to feel that things will unfold as they’re meant to, so I’m more in a go-with-the-flow mode.
Looking back, what do you see as the role of Orange House Hokkori?
Keiko
Perhaps a connector.
We’re not trying to make the cafe increasingly successful; we’re doing it as one way to connect with all kinds of people.
Shinji
Maybe we’re a kind of cheering squad. I’d love to create a place where people can make the things they want to try or the dreams they’ve sketched out come true.
Rather than focusing on what we want to do, we’d like to keep incorporating our customers’ ideas, like “How about this?”
Is there anything you’d like to try or any plans for the future?
Keiko
I’d like to take our time connecting with people of all ages in the community, as well as everyone nearby who hasn’t visited yet.
I’d also like to listen more closely to what people need and want.
Shinji
Someday, I’d like to try all kinds of things, as long as we can meet people’s requests—for example, opening in the evenings, not just on Sunday afternoons, or having different events on different weekdays.
By the way, our eldest son dreams of becoming a bartender.
He became friends with a bartender at a place we happened to visit in Tokyo, and that inspired him to start making cocktails.
He has some paralysis in his body, but he enjoys making the cocktails he’s learned at home and serving them to his family.
Keiko
Eventually, I’d like people to use it as a place they can drop by anytime, open every day.
Dreaming of that future, I’m excited to keep doing all kinds of activities.
After the interview
On the page, it may seem like Keiko did most of the talking, but as I listened to them in person, I felt that their thoughts were connected.
I imagine that bond was built over time as they raised their three children together, thinking through all kinds of things.
Keiko’s words, “Everything was a stepping stone leading to this,” gave me goosebumps.
It’s an epic story of accepting fate, turning it into the strength to move forward, and, through trial and error, eventually discovering a new purpose in life.
It was an interview that gave me courage.
Orange House Hokkori is a bright and friendly place, and I’m sure you’ll be warmly welcomed and have a great time if you visit.
If you ever find yourself in the Otani district of Konko Town on a Sunday, be sure to drop by.
Orange House Hokkori details
| Name | Orange House Hokkori |
|---|---|
| Address | 293 Otani, Konko Town, Asakuchi City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | Not listed |
| Parking | None There is no dedicated parking lot. Please use the parking lot in front of Konko Library or the lot below the grounds of Konkokyo Headquarters. |
| Hours | Open Sundays only / 8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. *Hours may change. |
| Closed | Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, public holidays, and irregular days |
| Payment methods |
|
| Reservations | Not accepted |
| Seating | Counter seats: 3 Number of tables: 4 |
| Smoking | Entirely non-smoking |
| Restrooms | Western-style toilet, accessible toilet |
| Children | Children welcome |
| Accessibility | Accessible toilet Ostomate toilet available |
| Website | Orange House Hokkori: Official Instagram |
What would you like to know about Kurashiki?
Enter a word to search articles on this site
