Classic atmosphere like an old-fashioned beer hall.
We conducted our interview in mid-January. The snow was smooth and powdery. The temperature was minus 8 degrees Celsius, but it did not feel that cold during the day.
Regarding the name "Flower, Sun, Rain," he says, "I wanted to express the scenery of Biei, and these three words came to mind."
Ishii: This restaurant opened last year, right?
Horizontal groove: The apparel store started first last May, followed by the beer hall in October.
Ishii: I just had a quick look at the apparel section, and it was a great space for "Nepenthes" fans, with archives and other items from the past lined up.
Horizontal groove: The store features the original "Flower, Sun, Rain" printed flannel that was created at the start of the project, the "Nepenthes" archives, and imports and vintage items that have been collected over the decades as reference materials for making clothes. We even had a line up on the first day of opening.
Ishii: It is amazing that you could come all the way to Biei.
Horizontal groove: Customers from Sapporo and Asahikawa came to visit us. We really appreciate it.
The first original "Flower, Sun, Rain" is this printed flannel. It is the culmination of the persistence of Mr. Shimizu, the representative of the company, packed into every part, and is available in a total of seven colors. Each ¥42,900
Horizontal groove: It takes about 2 hours from Sapporo by train or 2.5 hours by car, so many people come for a day trip.
Ishii: But it is well worth the trouble to come here.
Kaname Nagaoka has been standing in the storefront of Nepenthes since 1993. I sell items here that I have collected over time and kept with great care. I am happy to see them sell, but at the same time I feel a certain sadness," he said in a gentle tone.
Horizontal groove: Many of the products we handle are archival, so quantities are limited. In that sense, we would like to expand our product lineup. This is the only place where you can see our original "Flower, Sun, Rain" wear. This year, we are preparing a variety of events and pop-ups with different industries that we hope you will enjoy.
Ishii: It's a great place to enjoy a beer after a day of shopping. I had heard that it was a "beer hall" rather than a beer bar, but it is really spacious and has a very hall-like atmosphere. The set of tables and chairs are very well thought out, and the lights hanging above each seat really set the mood.
Horizontal groove: You have a classic and mature space with a copper (copper) color scheme inside. The image I had in mind was a German beer hall. We want people to enjoy our original beer on tap in a relaxed atmosphere with distinctive lights.
Ishii: Craft beer stores are often thought of as having a somewhat modern interior, but not here. The atmosphere is classic, like an old-fashioned beer hall. Are there a lot of locals here?
Horizontal groove: They can come for lunch or tea. In addition to beer, we offer soft drinks, hand-drip coffee and espresso.
Coffee beans roasted in Asahikawa are used and carefully brewed by the baristas employed at the restaurant. On this day, coffee made from Honduran beans was served. It was delicious with a sour taste.
Horizontal groove: We also offer food, with four types of sandwiches as the main attraction, all made with Biei glutinous pork. Hokkaido is a treasure trove of ingredients, and we have everything you need. In Biei, in particular, we grow wheat and rice, so we try to do our best for local production for local consumption.
Ishii: Are the sandwiches a recipe to go with the beer?
All food is handmade in the restaurant. The chewy texture of the buns, with the sweetness of wheat spreading in your mouth, is a perfect match with the Biei glutinous pork. From left: "Hamburger" ¥1,100, "Hog Dog" ¥990, "Bosuna" ¥990, "Katsu Sandwich ¥1,100
Horizontal groove: We were particular about the compatibility with beer. We completed four types of sandwiches through repeated prototyping. The "Bosuna" sandwich is a spicy curry-based sausage sandwich, while the "Katsu Sandwich" is an orthodox style made with filet mignon and topped with chuno sauce, original sauce, and wagara sauce. The "Hamburger" is a Biei Mochi pork patty topped with an original sauce blended with specially selected butter and balsamic to give it a deep flavor. The "Hog Dog" is made with loin meat, stir-fried with onions and sauce from a pork specialty restaurant, giving it a punchy flavor. All of them have a flavor that makes beer go down a treat.
Ishii: I'm curious about "hog-dog."
Horizontal groove: I highly recommend you try it. It has a barbecue-like flavor, so I think a South 2 West 8 beer would go well with it.
Ishii: We will take it!
Horizontal groove: How do you like it?
Ishii: Yeah, it's delicious! Like the ingredients, the buns are chewy and have a nice texture.
Horizontal groove: The buns are ordered from a bakery in Asahikawa. The person who makes the sauce also loves fishing and wears "South 2 West 8" a lot. This is how we got to be involved in this project.
Ishii: That's part of the charm of Nepenthes, isn't it? It's amazing to see the energy of people who have connected with each other through fate to do something together.
Horizontal groove: Mr. Kawamura, who made the beer, was also a fan of Engineered Garments, and somehow understood the mood of Nepenthes. I think that's why we were able to create a distinctive beer.
A track jacket from "Needles" is the store's uniform. On the left chest is a "Flower, Sun, Rain" logo patch. This patch is also available at the store (¥1,100).
Ishii: I think that is really important. Nepenthes" has a strong individuality, and I don't think it is possible to collaborate with them unless you understand their groove. Having a store makes it easier to form such connections and share a common worldview.
Horizontal groove: I really do. I am grateful.
Ishii: By the way, the sauce in this sandwich is just the right amount of sweet and spicy, and it makes the beer go down a treat. The green onions also add a nice crunchy texture.
Horizontal groove: Originally, we used to grill pork with this sauce. This was the inspiration for the development of our menu. We also recommend the "Mackerel Sandwich," the "Jambon Bourg" ham sandwich with lots of butter, and our curry bread.
Clam chowder has recently been added to our menu. We hope it will warm up your body during the long cold season.
Butter and homemade caramel cookie sandwiches are currently being prototyped. Cookies in the shape of the store's logo are also cute.
Horizontal groove: We are also working on cookies and cakes to enhance our sweet offerings. The store is open from 11:00 a.m., so of course you can feel free to use it as a café as well.
The view from "Shiki no To (Tower of the Four Seasons)" located in the center of the town of Biei. It is obvious at a glance that the area is surrounded by rich nature.
Ishii: What do you think is the charm of Biei?
Horizontal groove: It is the scenery, after all. There are many tourists from overseas who come here simply to enjoy the scenery.
As soon as you drive your car, you will encounter this kind of scenery. The area is hilly and dramatic.
Ishii: Indeed, I was surprised at how beautiful the scenery was.
Horizontal groove: The scenery is just as I have seen it in my many video works. Nature is abundant and Hokkaido is also a mecca for fishing. Biei is also surrounded by mountains and has several famous rivers flowing through it. That's why the "Nepenthes" team, who love fishing, has been visiting here for a long time.
Ishii: It is also accessible from Asahikawa Airport.
Horizontal groove: That's right. It's about a 15 minute drive from the airport to here. It's not too big, but it's nice to be a little far from the big city. I can go fishing and play in Asahikawa, so the location advantage is very high.
Ishii: I also fish for bass, but I would like to try mountain stream fishing someday.
Horizontal groove: I would love to see you do it. Tenkara has a bass element to it. If you understand fish, I am sure you will get into it. Please come back in the summer.
Ishii: Right now, the landscape is snowy, but it is likely to change dramatically when the weather warms up.
Horizontal groove: In Hokkaido, when the weather warms up, the trees sprout at once. Last spring, I went back to Tokyo and came back here about 10 days later to find a completely different landscape. The white landscape had changed to green, and it is a really nice place with abundant nature.
