Interview with the owner of Chuka Soba Sakamoto, Sakamoto Hideki
Chuka Soba Sakamoto is the oldest ramen shop still in existence in Kasaoka City and a renowned establishment of Kasaoka ramen, attracting customers not only from the local area but also from across the country.
I spoke with the owner of Sakamoto, Sakamoto Hideki, about the history of the shop, the reasons for taking over the family business, the shop's commitments, and future aspirations.
This interview features content from the initial interview conducted in September 2020.
The origin of Sakamoto is the specialty retail store "Kashiwa-ya"
What is the background of the establishment of "Chuka Soba Sakamoto"?
Sakamoto
The shop was opened by my predecessor, my father. The founding year was 1958 (Showa 33).
Originally, it was not a ramen shop but a Kashiwa-ya (a specialty store for Kashiwa meat).
The location was slightly to the west of where it is now.
Eventually, a ramen shop using Kashiwa was also established next to Kashiwa-ya.
After that, we stopped operating Kashiwa-ya and became a ramen specialty shop.
What is "Kashiwa-ya"?
Sakamoto
Young people probably don't understand it (laughs).
Kashiwa meat refers to the meat of chickens that have stopped laying eggs, sold in a specialty retail format.
Since poultry farming was thriving around Kasaoka, there were many Kashiwa-ya shops.
In the 1950s (Showa 30s), when my predecessor started Kashiwa-ya, beef and pork were still considered luxury items.
So, for the common people, meat meant whale meat or chicken.
And chicken was Kashiwa.
Kashiwa-ya has a slightly different image from today's meat shops.
The style may have varied by shop, but at ours, we would visit farms every morning to procure chickens that had stopped laying eggs.
We would process them in the shop and sell them to customers by parts.
I felt that a beloved local store should not be left behind
When did you move to the current location?
Sakamoto
Hmm, I don't quite remember.
I think it was in the 1970s (Showa 50s)...
Actually, I was not originally interested in ramen shops.
So, my memories from that time are vague (laughs).
So, you had no intention of taking over the shop?
Sakamoto
That's right.
My job was unrelated to ramen shops or even the food service industry; I was in an office job.
But gradually, as my predecessor aged, I began to think that Sakamoto, a beloved local shop, is a necessary establishment for the community.
For many years, it has been loved by the people in the city, attracting many customers, and is recognized as a renowned ramen shop in Kasaoka, drawing visitors from all over the country.
Moreover, there are people who come to learn the basics of Kasaoka ramen at our shop.
People who learned here have opened their own ramen shops both inside and outside the prefecture.
So, to ensure that Sakamoto continues to exist, I decided to take over the business.
I resigned from my job.
I started working at "Chuka Soba Sakamoto" in April 2009 (Heisei 21).
I learned the know-how from my father while training.
Sakamoto's commitment is to the taste of Chuka Soba, the speed of service, and "Asa-ra" (morning ramen)
What are your commitments?
Sakamoto
Of course, I am committed to the taste and ingredients of the ramen.
However, equally important is the speed of service for the ramen.
We are fortunate to have many customers coming to our shop.
Therefore, I want to serve quickly after taking orders.
Especially during lunch, people on their breaks come to eat.
Since those working have set break times, we should serve them quickly.
Our shop operates with just two people, so we don't have much staff available.
One of the strategies to focus on providing ramen quickly is to not increase the menu.
By limiting the options to regular and large servings of Chuka Soba, we can concentrate on making ramen and serve it faster.
We introduced a "self-checkout machine" for the same reason.
By having customers handle their own payments, we can focus on making ramen.
Another commitment is opening the shop early in the morning to serve ramen.
This is what we call "Asa-ra" (eating ramen in the morning).
Is there a demand for Asa-ra?
Sakamoto
Actually, there is quite a demand.
We have many regular customers who come specifically for Asa-ra.
On weekdays, it's people on their breaks, and on Saturdays, it's families enjoying Asa-ra.
Currently, we open at 9:30 AM.
We've been doing this for a long time.
However, in my predecessor's time, we opened even earlier.
It was around 7:00 or 7:30 AM.
This was because, in the past, more people commuted by train and bus than now.
So, there were people who would eat ramen here in the morning and then head straight to work by train or bus.
Since "Sakamoto's morning service" has been established in the community for a long time, I believe we must continue it, even if the hours change somewhat.
I want to continue the traditional Sakamoto store
What are your aspirations and goals for the future?
Sakamoto
My goal is to continue making delicious ramen at a reasonable price.
The recognition of Kasaoka ramen has gradually increased, and customers are coming from all over the country.
We are very welcoming and grateful for this.
On the other hand, we also have many local regulars.
Some have become regulars across three generations.
There are stories that as tourism increases, local customers may drift away, but that is not the case at our shop.
It makes me happy that both tourists from afar and long-time local customers come to our shop.
I hope to continue being a shop loved by both tourists and locals.
So, first, I aim for the next five years. After that, another five years. I want to keep working as long as my body allows.
Additionally, I want to pass on this traditional shop to the next generation, so I plan to nurture successors.
Conclusion
Chuka Soba Sakamoto is a representative shop of Kasaoka ramen and the oldest ramen shop still in existence in Kasaoka City.
It has been loved by the community for many years and now attracts customers from across the country.
Not only the exterior and atmosphere of the shop but also the ramen has a traditional taste, making it a shop of historical value.
Sakamoto, the second-generation owner who took over to preserve such a traditional shop.
Not only does he maintain the tradition of taste, but he is also committed to the speed of service, implementing various strategies to serve customers quickly.
If you come to Kasaoka, be sure to try the Kasaoka ramen at Chuka Soba Sakamoto, a traditional taste of Kasaoka.
Chuka Soba Sakamoto Information
| Name | Chuka Soba Sakamoto |
|---|---|
| Address | 34-9 Chuo-cho, Kasaoka City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | None |
| Parking | None |
| Business Hours | 9:30 AM to around 2:30 PM ※ Ends when the soup runs out |
| Regular Holiday | Thursday |
| Payment Method |
|
| Reservation | No |
| Seating | 14 seats total ・Counter seats: 4 (2 seats x 2 locations) ・Table seats for 2: 1 table ・Table seats for 3: 1 table ・Table seats for 5: 1 table |
| Smoking | Completely non-smoking |
| Toilet | Western-style toilet |
| Childcare | ・Children's utensils available ・During busy times, entry with small children may be refused |
| Barrier-Free | ・Wheelchair accessible ・Toilet is not wheelchair accessible |
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