Interview with owner Sato Atsushi
We asked about his dedication to cakes, his feelings about the shop and the community, and his goals for the future.
25 years of carrying on naturally
The shop has reached its 25th anniversary. How do you feel?
Sato (surname only)
I’ve been focused on making sweets all along, so I don’t feel that 25 years is a long or short time. Making sweets has become part of my life.
When I was young and had just opened, there was a time when I paid attention to how hard the other cake shops around me were working. But now I don’t worry about others and value the “natural” approach of doing what I want to do.
A taste everyone calls “delicious,” rather than one that stands out
Tell us about what you focus on when making cakes and baked goods.
Sato
I’m committed to offering things that everyone can enjoy as delicious, without targeting a particular customer group.
We occasionally offer distinctive products, but I want to offer things that everyone, from children to adults, will say are delicious.
On the other hand, when it comes to flavor and texture, I base my products on what I want to offer.
If I decide that a particular flavor is non-negotiable, I may serve it as is, without being swayed by customer opinions.
It may seem contradictory at first, but while I value the flavors and textures I’m unwilling to compromise on, I try to accommodate customers in other respects.
Gratitude to the community and challenges for the future
Could you tell us how you feel about Mabi and the shop?
Sato
I’ve now spent more time living in Mabi than I did in Yokohama, and I feel that this is my hometown.
Seeing the nature of Mabi, such as its fields and egrets, really puts me at ease.
I feel that Mabi is a place that suits me, and I’m happy to be able to work here.
As for the shop, my wife’s parents helped and supported us when we opened.
Even though I came from elsewhere, I received help through my wife’s parents’ acquaintances, and I was also introduced to the land where the shop now stands with the suggestion, “I hear there’s some unused land—why not ask about it?” I’ve been supported through all kinds of encounters.
Tell us about your plans for the future.
Sato
I want to create a signature product that people will say, “When you think of Wohl Wollen, this is the one.”
At the moment, our matcha Matsukaze fresh cream roll fills that role, but I’d like more people to know about it.
I also want to create a signature baked good, and we’re currently working on developing new products.
Baked goods keep well and make good gifts, so people in areas far from Mabi can enjoy them too.
To help more people learn about the shop, I’m hoping we can place baked-goods gift sets in commercial facilities and similar venues.
There are themes I want to try one by one, and honestly, sometimes I fail and think, “Oh, that wasn’t right.” But when I look back, I often realize, “That experience came in handy.”
I’d like to keep taking on new challenges while enjoying the various successes and failures.
From the Writer
Even during the interview, customers kept coming in one after another, each choosing products they liked.
What particularly stood out was the warm service from the staff.
They opened the door for customers whose hands were full, and in the busy shop, production staff who came to replenish the cakes helped serve customers so they wouldn’t have to wait.
The shop’s warm, thoughtful care for its customers can be felt everywhere, not just in its cakes.
For a special celebration or a gift for someone dear to you.
Be sure to visit Wohl Wollen.
Wohl Wollen details
| Name | Wohl Wollen |
|---|---|
| Address | 538-4 Kawabe, Mabi-cho, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-697-0876 |
| Parking | Available 9 spaces |
| Hours | 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. |
| Closed | Monday Open if Monday is a public holiday; closed the following day |
| Payment methods |
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| Website | Wohl Wollen |
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