There is nothing to buy, but for some reason it is a place that makes you want to come.
You mentioned earlier that you were influenced by the people you met while working. For example, when you find something interesting, do you pay more attention to the "people" who make it?
Takasu:That's right. When I find something, I try to visit the people who are making it and the place where they are making it. That is important. It is the same with this store. I believe that people are more important than things.
The staff is very attractive, and the customers come to them.
Takasu:I think there is a lot to it. That's the whole point of a physical store, isn't it? Sometimes I think our customers are shopping even though they don't need it that much. I think they support the store.
When we arrived at the restaurant before it opened, the staff greeted us with a friendly "good morning.
Takasu:Ten years have passed since we moved here, and amidst all the things that have happened, the staff is finally getting together. I am very happy about that now. Many of the staff working here are locals, and some of them were brought here by their parents when they were little. I think that's great.
What is it that you want to communicate through this store?
Takasu:As I mentioned earlier, I guess it's about "this is nice, isn't it? It's the environment of Hayama, or Amami, yes. Isn't it amazing? I think it's great.
I guess you are not lying about your feelings, or perhaps you value the impulsive aspect of your work.
Takasu:It is the same as the feeling of seeing a flower and thinking it is beautiful. The customer sees that and agrees with it, and that's how business is done. It's just a repetition of the same thing.
There is a store called "ET Surfbords" in Hermosa Beach, California. The guys there talk about surfing all the time, and they go on and on about how the waves were today. There is really no lie there, and there are stores like that, not just surf stores. There is nothing to buy, but for some reason it makes you want to come there. I like that kind of place.
It is also a conversation that is rooted in the local community. I think it means that there are things that can only be done there. I think "Sunshine + Cloud" is also a proposal to enrich the lives of local people.
Takasu:I would be grateful if you think so. We have locals who come here, and we also have people who come from far away, and it finally happened. As a result, this kind of store is sometimes called a community store. I think it is important to be loved by the locals. Then, gradually, customers will come from far away. It is true that "if those near you are happy, those far away will come.
Recently, we built a parking lot next to our store, and when a local asked me, "What did you do with this place? When I answered, "We turned it into a parking lot," a local resident said, "Congratulations, that's great! That made me very happy. It was a moment that made me feel happy that I had been doing this business for so long.
What do people living in this area have in common?
Takasu:I guess I am enjoying my life. There are many people who are so free that when you look at them from the outside, you wonder, "What is this person doing? But in reality, they are working hard and have their feet firmly planted on the ground. But in reality, they are working and have their feet on the ground. California is similar in that people are not armed. For example, in the way they dress. They are free and easygoing, and they really enjoy their lives. They also work hard. Many of them have that kind of balance.
