Walking through the tranquil streets of Setagaya, a fragrant aroma of coffee drifted by. At the open-plan entrance, where concrete and the warmth of wood harmoniously blended, Itsuki-san and Moe-san greeted me with their usual bright smiles.
"yup!" is a place where you can enjoy coffee, craft beer, homemade donuts, and mead.
Delicious beer is poured right behind the display case filled with fluffy donuts. It's curious how this seemingly unexpected combination effortlessly blends into the scenery.
This warm space is created by the exquisite harmony of the two: Moe-san handles the food, and Itsuki-san selects the drinks and creates a pleasant musical atmosphere.
Itsuki-san and Moe-san became friends through a mutual friend who loves beer.
One day, they consulted me, saying, "We haven't been able to find the ideal chopsticks for our shop..." With confidence, I recommended Daikokuya's chopsticks.
They instantly loved them and decided to get them for their shop.
After that, I wondered how they were actually to use.
Since I myself am a user, I wanted to discuss their merits with them again. So today, I decided to visit them during their "staff meal time."
"Would you like a drink?"
As I sat down at the counter, Itsuki-san immediately offered to pour me a craft beer.
Itsuki-san is usually very gentle and a good conversationalist, but the moment he gripped the server tap, his expression became serious, as if he had switched into craftsman mode. It was very striking.
A golden glass of beer was carefully poured, complete with fine foam.
As I savored its fragrant aroma and pleasant crispness, a delicious smell drifted from the back. Moe-san's staff meal was ready.
Staff Meal Time
Amano: "What's for staff meal today?"
Moe-san: "Today, it's fried horse mackerel. And also cold tofu and miso soup with rapeseed blossoms and wakame seaweed."
The table laid before me was so lavish it hardly seemed like a staff meal. Beside the main fried horse mackerel, there was also lightly fried Japanese ginger, making it look like a restaurant's set meal.
Amano: "What's on top of the cold tofu?"
Moe-san: "Sometimes we serve oden at the shop, and this is bonitoflakes that have been stir-fried after we've taken the broth, mixed with finely chopped Japanese ginger and soy sauce."
To use ingredients that have completed their main role and integrate them into their staff meals without waste. Moe-san's cooking skills and gentle regard for ingredients were deeply evident.
Chopsticks that felt just right
Itsuki-san & Moe-san: "Itadakimasu." (Let's eat.)
The two cheerfully cut the fried horse mackerel with their chopsticks and ate it with delight. Watching them, I immediately asked about their experience using the chopsticks.
Amano: "How do you like using the chopsticks now?"
Itsuki-san: "They're amazing. It really feels like I can use chopsticks skillfully."
Moe-san: "Yes, it really feels like I can use chopsticks skillfully, which lifts my spirits, and lately, we've been having more Japanese food for staff meals. I'd been looking for chopsticks that felt 'just right,' ones I'd want our customers to use too."
Itsuki-san: "We've already had customers use them, and they often praise them!"
The couple were surprised, remarking that as soon as they started using them, they were completely different from the chopsticks they had used before.
Daikokuya's chopsticks, carved to be exquisitely thin towards the tips, feel as if your fingertips have extended smoothly. They are so comfortable to hold that your chopstick etiquette naturally becomes more graceful.
Amano: "What was the decisive factor for Daikokuya's chopsticks?"
Itsuki-san: "Definitely the appearance!"
Moe-san: "They have a sophisticated design that isn't too traditional Japanese, which is great."
Originally designed for restaurants, these traditional Edo-style wooden chopsticks possess a sophisticated design that seamlessly fits not only Japanese cuisine but also modern dining tables.
Moe-san: "You told us that these chopsticks are used at that famous restaurant that won first place in the world, didn't you? That also really appealed to us (laughs)."
Itsuki-san: "But ultimately, the biggest factor was the comfort of holding them and their appearance, which made us feel 'this is it'."
Amano: "I'm very glad to hear you say that. By the way, all the dishes served today are also wonderful, and I was curious. Do you have any particular preferences when choosing dishes?"
Itsuki-san: "There are some dishes we bought with specific intentions, but actually, in Setagaya, many people put out unwanted items in front of their houses with a 'please take freely' sign. We often pick up things we like from there. This small bowl holding the cold tofu today is one of them."
How wonderful is the scene where things chosen by the criterion of "whether they feel comfortable to us" coexist?
I believe that this flexible aesthetic sense is what creates the comfortable atmosphere of the two, laughing across the counter.
"yup!", a place where you can relax
In a relaxed atmosphere, I asked something that had been on my mind.
Amano: "By the way, why did you name your shop 'yup!'?"
Itsuki-san: "It's slang for 'YES,' like 'yeah' or 'okay,' in a casual way. A lot of foreigners use it too. When we were deciding the shop's name, one day we were drinking together, and one of us said 'yup!'. And we were like, 'Oh, that's good!' (laughs)."
Born from a flash of inspiration over drinks, the name, which encourages relaxation, perfectly embodies their unpretentious personalities.
"Since we got these chopsticks, we've been making more Japanese food."
On my way home, enveloped in the gentle warmth of a mild spring day, I suddenly recalled Moe-san's words.
Good tools, simply by existing, can subtly change the actions of their users.
I was very happy to witness such a scene today.
Tonight, I think I'll also make some delicious Japanese food and enjoy it slowly with my Daikokuya chopsticks.
Itsuki-san, Moe-san. Thank you so much for the wonderful time.
yup!
COFFEE / DONUT / CRAFT BEER / MEAD
1-32-18 Kitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 155-0031
Closed on Wednesdays, with other irregular holidays.
