Original Camper with Eita Tooyama
The moment shines because of the limitations.
PROFILE
After working as a barista at a cafe in Tokyo, he became independent and opened the coffee shop "Swallow" in Sangenjaya in 2023. He is also showing his versatility by creating original apparel for the store.
Instagram:@swallow_coffee_official
How do you feel now that you have had your own store for about a year?
It all happened so fast. I am having a lot of fun getting to know people I never met before and making new connections by opening my own store. When I worked as a barista in a cafe, I was evaluated on what I made, but now I feel that the store is also looking at me, so I have a stronger sense of responsibility for my work.
What is important to you in running "Swallow"?
Rather than the feeling of selling good coffee, we value providing a comfortable time and space.
Of course it is important to serve good coffee, but the level of coffee has been improving, and I believe that good coffee is a matter of course. I want coffee to be a tool for people to have a good time. I want coffee to be a tool for having a good time. I want it to be a place where the people who come to drink it play the leading role, not just a beverage.
─ It's a wonderful space. You can have a really comfortable time with a cup of coffee.
Thank you very much. When I go out for coffee as a customer, I don't like to be seen by the staff or to feel close to them, so I try to make sure that each customer has his/her own personal space in my store. I keep the space between the seats spacious and try not to look at the customers too much (laughs).
What kind of things do you do to calm down?
I love the store so much that I tend to think about work all the time. I think this is a good thing, but I also need to make time to calm my body and mind. In fact, I try to make time to relax as much as possible.
I believe that new ideas are born when we get information from outside of the options we are used to seeing. I think that new ideas can come to you when you are in the bathtub, away from social networking sites and other outside information. When I go home, I put my cell phone in my bedroom and basically don't look at it much.
I think this is exactly what Timex is trying to achieve with the "analog life". How do you spend your time?
I may not be completely analog, but I've recently started watching TV again; Instagram and YouTube are convenient, but in an age where we can choose many things to suit our tastes, I sometimes enjoy media where I can't freely choose the time or content.
You may think, "Everything in this time slot is boring," and then try to enjoy a program you normally don't touch. Even a 3-minute mini-show between a variety show and a drama can be interesting if you take your time to watch it. I guess I am now old enough to enjoy such inconveniences.
Has your relationship with time changed?
When I first started my own restaurant, I began to think that, of course, time is limited. I always think about what I can do with the limited time I have, such as having business hours, making this preparation before opening, preparing at this time, and so on. I think that is what motivates me to spend my days.
Have you ever worn a Timex watch?
The first watch I bought when I started working was the "Original Camper" in black, which I wear today. If I had not worn a watch on the first day I went to work, I think it would have meant that I should manage my time as a member of society, but my boss was very angry with me. But I didn't want to buy a random watch, so I chose Timex because of the military story behind the brand.
Original Camper Black/Green ¥10,890
The ── green belt has a military look and is cool. It looks good on you, Mr. Toyama. What do you think when you try it on?
I like the military-derived cleanliness, as if it has only the necessary functions. It has a rugged look that goes well with my everyday attire. It is very lightweight, so it doesn't get in the way when I am making coffee or cooking food. This belt is easy to use because it can be washed even if it gets sweaty in the summer.
