Lighting up Mabi - A coffee and matcha shop that illuminates the pitch-black night, Traveler's Teahouse.

Due to the damage from the heavy rain in July 2018, the population of Mabi, which was 22,797, has decreased by about 2,000 people.

There are also cases where people have moved without changing their residency, so it is believed that the actual number of people who have left Mabi is higher than the tally.

During the day, the sounds of construction repairing the levees and demolishing houses, as well as the sounds of new buildings being erected, create a lively atmosphere, but at night it falls silent.

As of March 2019, when the interview was conducted, about 8,000 people were living in temporary housing, and the number of people actually residing in Mabi has drastically decreased compared to before the heavy rain.

In front of the "Mabi Fureai Center" in the quiet Mabi town of Yata, there is a traveling merchant tea house that offers a comforting light and warm drinks.

It is becoming a gathering place for those affected in Mabi and volunteers.

At night, the traveling merchant tea house operates, and during the day, Ryo Sho, who is from Kurashiki, has been involved in house repairs as part of the "Disaster NPO Traveling Merchant" and "Mabi Reconstruction Base Takeakari."

I will introduce him as I heard his story at the traveling merchant tea house.

About the Traveling Merchant Tea House

The "Traveling Merchant Tea House," which serves matcha and coffee, is located across from the entrance of the "Mabi Fureai Center" on the grounds of "Miyake Woodworking," and operates irregularly only at night.

The illumination that makes it easy to find even at night is a landmark.

For information regarding business hours, please check Mr. Ryo Sho's Instagram stories.

The "Traveling Merchant Tea House," a wooden light truck camping kitchen car, mainly serves matcha and coffee.

It seems that they are renting the parking lot of the election office of Kurashiki City Council member Moriya Hiroshi, which is about 50 meters west of this location, as the parking lot for the "Traveling Merchant Tea House."

It operates in a street vendor style with a mobile kitchen car.

▼ The menu during the interview in March 2019 was as follows.

The Matcha Brown Sugar Latte is carefully prepared with matcha, and since it has sweetness, it is recommended as it has less bitterness.

Activities of Mr. Ryo Sho

I heard that after the heavy rain in July 2018, you were mostly active in Mabi from your base in Saitama Prefecture. Could you tell us about your activities?

Ryo Sho

While managing a market, a share house, and a radio station in Saitama, I was traveling around the country selling goods with a kitchen car.

When a disaster occurs during my travels, I help out with what I can as "Disaster NPO Traveling Merchant" together with my partner from Saitama.

Also, during the heavy rain in July 2018, I called out "Travelers should go to the disaster area" and gathered travelers and small business people from all over the country.

My activities include operating the Kurashiki City Disaster Volunteer Center's Shitakari Satellite and Asahi-cho Satellite, responding to special needs such as heavy machinery, carpentry, and nursing, and supporting events, food distributions, salons, and community activities.

Although my efforts are small, I have been working with the hope of lighting a flame for the reconstruction of Mabi.

The Reason for Opening the Traveling Merchant Tea House on the Dark Nights of Mabi

Ryo Sho

The Mabi Fureai Center, directly across from the Traveling Merchant Tea House, was a garbage collection site after the heavy rain in July 2018.

This location used to be Miyake's "Woodworking" site.

Close to the garbage collection site, Miyake, who is also a carpenter, was carefully repairing and using things.

This place also suffered damage and was in terrible condition, but as a disaster volunteer center, priority was given to living spaces and work inside houses, so volunteers could not reach here.

Even while feeling at a loss, seeing him carefully repairing and cleaning up alone, we helped him with the cleanup.

The reason for running the Traveling Merchant Tea House here is also because I want to make Miyake happy. He comes by almost every time we are open, and he looks happy when people gather.

Just being able to see Miyake's happy expression gives meaning to what we are doing.

My shop is a small shop about the size of two tatami mats on wheels, run by myself.

Even if no customers come, I can still open the shop because it is a small kitchen car at the minimum scale.

I want to light a little light in the completely dark Mabi at night. That is the feeling with which I operate.

Conclusion

Mr. Ryo Sho, who looks each person's face and eyes who visits the Traveling Merchant Tea House and talks heart to heart, leaves a strong impression.

About 11 months have passed since the heavy rain in July 2018, but the nights in Mabi are still very dark.

I feel that local young power like Mr. Ryo Sho is essential for the future reconstruction of Mabi.

A heartfelt "break" that soothes the heart releases tension and fatigue, and the conversation flows, bringing smiles on the night.

Surrounded by Mr. Ryo Sho's kitchen car, people of various ages, from young to elderly, gather at night to relax in a place that warms both heart and body.

And I hope that more people will come to know the delicious cup and thoughts that Mr. Ryo Sho brews.

The reconstruction of Mabi has only just begun.

Data on the Traveling Merchant Tea House

Name	Traveling Merchant Tea House
Address	40-1 Yata, Mabi-cho, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture / Across from Mabi Fureai Center
Parking	Available Parking lot of the election office of Kurashiki City Council member Moriya Hiroshi
Business Hours	Irregular Around 8 PM to around 10 PM *For details, please check Mr. Ryo Sho's Instagram stories.
Regular Holidays	Irregular
Payment Methods	Cash
Reservation	No
Website	Mr. Ryo Sho's Instagram

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