Going beyond the border, with Spingle.

Asano: Since kitchen tools are consumables, I tend to replace my cooking utensils fairly often, but I’ve been maintaining and using my knives for a long time. When I first opened “Minaya,” I had a knife custom-made at “Kamaasa Shoten” in Asakusa, and I still use it today, taking good care of it.

Asano: Yes. I live in a 100-year-old traditional house in Ehime that I renovated myself. To keep anything in good condition for a long time, you have to make adjustments, improvements, and renovations—and I find that process itself to be enjoyable. Whether it’s taking a knife out to be sharpened or fixing up the house, I feel like those hands-on tasks are what make it fun.

Asano: I think so. To do that, it’s really important to develop a sense of attachment first. I have a special attachment to the kitchen knife because I made it when we first opened the restaurant, and I feel the same way about our house in Ehime—it has a history of being passed down through generations of our family. That’s why I feel motivated to fix it up and keep living there. As for these shoes, after hearing your story just now, I’ve grown very attached to them, so I’d like to keep wearing them for a long time, even if I have to get them repaired along the way.

Asano: I don't know... Intuitively, it's “whatever gets me most excited in the moment.” I've always made it a priority to create bento boxes that make me feel excited the moment I open them.

Asano: The most important thing is comfort. Since running shoes are designed for running, they often aren’t quite right for everyday walking. That’s why I usually wear sneakers other than running shoes. My feet are a bit on the larger side, so I tend to choose shoes based on whether they’ll give me blisters and whether they’re comfortable to walk in.

In that regard, these shoes have the soft, comfortable feel characteristic of kangaroo leather, and they felt like they were wrapping around my feet. I heard that the toe box is slightly raised, so I think that curve is what makes them so easy to walk in. Plus, thanks to the elastic at the opening, they were really easy to slip on and off.

Asano: The design has a luxurious feel to it, and since they go with a wider variety of outfits than regular sneakers, I thought they’d be great for everyday wear. Does this kangaroo leather develop a patina over time?

Asano: I’m glad to know that. After all, kangaroos are generally seen as cute in Japan. Also, I had the impression that keeping leather looking nice was a bit tricky, so that’s a relief. Plus, the length was just perfect.

Asano: I do wear them, but since they’re such a hassle to take on and off, I tend to avoid them. But this time, they were really comfortable, and even when I got flagged at the security checkpoint before boarding the plane, the elastic side gores made it easy to slip them right off—which was a huge help. The person in line in front of me was wearing mid-calf boots and took forever to take them off, so I thought, “The difference is amazing…”

Asano: Lately, just seeing the color yellow gets me excited, so today I paired my yellow skirt with a yellow-toned nail polish. I also thought it would go well with leather, so I threw on a vintage jacket.

Asano: I’d rather wear these for a trip a bit further afield than just a quick run to the store. I think they’d be great for traveling, too. They’re lightweight and easy to carry, easy to slip on and off, and—most importantly—comfortable to walk in. Plus, since they’re leather, they look smart enough to wear anywhere, so I’m hoping this one pair will cover a wide range of occasions.

Asano: That’s right. “Bringing vitality and smiles through food”— that’s something we want to continue cherishing for years to come. With that in mind, we’d also like to develop a system that makes it easy for the general public to stop by for takeout. We’re aren’t just a “team of professional chefs,” so I think we all have our own unique approaches, but even so, we want to prioritize service and responsiveness so that we remain a restaurant people keep choosing.

For example, on a photo shoot, all sorts of things can happen—like sudden changes in the number of people or the schedule getting moved up. By staying as responsive as possible to each situation, I want clients to feel confident that they can rely on “Minaya.” I hope to continue working in this way moving forward.