I have continued along the path of business in Ginza that was paved by my grandfather.<\/h4>\n\n\n- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Seigetsudo now has a restaurant, caf\u00e9, and a gallery, right?<\/dd>\n
- Mizuhara<\/dt>\n
- That\u2019s right. We currently have a rental gallery on Ginza 5-Chome, a caf\u00e9 on 6-Chome, and a French restaurant in Shinjuku\u2019s Odakyu Department Store restaurant area.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- How long has your company been in Ginza?<\/dd>\n
- Mizuhara<\/dt>\n
- It was founded in 1947, so this is our 66th year. We ran a restaurant in 5-Chome for 17 years, but it closed three years ago. Now we only have the two places in Ginza \u2014 the caf\u00e9 and the gallery.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- That\u2019s too bad. Still, Seigetsudo has a long history in Ginza. The second person interviewed for this series was Mr. Mizuhara from the Seigetsudo main shop \u2014 the long-standing Japanese style confectionery. Is he a relative of yours?<\/dd>\n
- Mizuhara<\/dt>\n
- Yes, he is. His father and I have the same grandfather, so the current president is my cousin\u2019s son. <\/p>\n
Our grandfather had five sons. One became a journalist for the Asahi Shimbun, and the remaining four took the business route. The founder, who was our grandfather, gave those sons one store each so that they could run businesses alongside each other. My older brother took over the Japanese style confectionery, so my father looked for something different and chose to open a Western-style restaurant and caf\u00e9.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- So, Seigetsudo has been connected to Ginza since your grandfather\u2019s generation. Have you lived in Ginza in your whole life?<\/dd>\n
- Mizuhara<\/dt>\n
- I used to live in Ginza. The American occupation forces came when I was little, and it was said that Ginza was no longer a place for kids to play, so we moved to Yotsuya. Both my father and I went to kindergartens around here. Back then the best places to play were on the roofs of department stores.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n\n
![](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/Connect_17_01.jpg\")
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n![](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/Connect_17_02.jpg\")
<\/p>\nGinza Seigetsudo in Shinjuku\u2019s Odakyu Department Store<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n![](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/Connect_17_03.jpg\")
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nThe drink that Shotaro Ikenami loved is still popular even today.<\/h4>\n\n\n- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- When I think of Seigetsudo, I think of LINTARO CAF\u00c9 that is very popular.<\/dd>\n
- Mizuhara<\/dt>\n
- Thank you for saying so. It\u2019s on the second floor of Ginza Kanematsu. The first-generation president of Kanematsu is a truly wonderful person who I strongly admire. He came to me twice, eagerly trying to convince me to set up a shop on the second floor of Kanematsu\u2019s main shop building on 6-Chome. I was very moved and decided to open a caf\u00e9 there. I had also longed to open a shop on Chuo-dori. It is a smallish caf\u00e9 with 28 seats, but it is said to have the best view in Ginza and is loved by many customers.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- I hear your famous cheesecake is absolutely delicious.<\/dd>\n
- Mizuhara<\/dt>\n
- I am proud to say that there are many fans of our cheesecake that we\u2019ve continued making for 35 years. Many prominent people have also told us they love our cheesecakes, so we make them every day. I sometimes even go to the confectionery factory myself to make them.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Really?! You make some yourself?<\/dd>\n
- Mizuhara<\/dt>\n
- Yes, I do (laughs). I actually enjoy making sweets. To make sure we never lose that flavor, myself and another confectioner that has worked for us for many years convey the flavor to others working here.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Because the cheesecake is loved by so many people. I also want to go and try some. I heard that Shotaro Ikenami was a fan of the caf\u00e9.<\/dd>\n
- Mizuhara<\/dt>\n
- Yes. Shotaro Ikenami liked our coffee and cream soda, and even wrote so in his book. One of our staff shared his hometown, so he came to the caf\u00e9 many times. Even now, many customers ask to have the same drink that Shotaro Ikenami used to have. I am very grateful.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Nothing beats relaxing and watching the streets of Ginza.<\/dd>\n
- Mizuhara<\/dt>\n
- Surely (laughs). The view is great, so we had a flood of inquiries for the recent Olympic parade and for the Giants\u2019 victory parade. Please come by when you have a chance.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- I will!<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n\n
![](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/Connect_17_04.jpg\")
\n<\/div>\n\n![](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/Connect_17_05.jpg\")
<\/p>\nFamous cheesecake<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
\nI learned everything about the mindset and spirit of a business person in Ginza from my strict father.<\/h4>\n\n- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Your father was the founder. What was he like?<\/dd>\n
- Mizuhara<\/dt>\n
- My father was always strict, but he taught me well. I remember him often telling me that Ginza-dori was the street customers walked down, so business people were not to walk down the middle of the street.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- He was very thorough.<\/dd>\n
- Mizuhara<\/dt>\n
- He had a habit of saying, \u201cIf a customer comes for one cup of coffee every day, in one year they are a shareholder with 360 shares.\u201d We must remember our gratitude and give them dividends like a nice atmosphere and delicious coffee, which they deserve as a shareholder. I was strictly told that we must work just as diligently as the amount of support we received from those customers. My father really cherished our regulars.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- His love for his customers is admirable.<\/dd>\n
- Mizuhara<\/dt>\n
- My father also told me that there are many streets with \u201cGinza\u201d in their name all over the country, and that we in the original Ginza must always give our best for the sake of all those local places assuming its name.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- He may have been strict, but your father taught you some wonderful things.<\/dd>\n
- Mizuhara<\/dt>\n
- He passed away at age 92. I learned everything from my father, including to be courteous to others and the spirit of conducting business with all your heart and soul.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Now you run the business as a family with your son and daughter?<\/dd>\n
- Mizuhara<\/dt>\n
- Yes, my son is the general manager of the restaurant in Shinjuku. My daughter worked elsewhere for a period, but now she works in our administration office. We have a cozy group of us plus 10 or so employees.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
![](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/Connect_17_06.jpg\")
\n<\/div>\n\n![](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/Connect_17_07.jpg\")
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nNewly paved in stone, Azuma-dori greets people from around the world.<\/h4>\n\n\n- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- I heard that you were involved in the restoration of Azuma-dori.<\/dd>\n
- Mizuhara<\/dt>\n
- Yes. We repaved Azuma-dori in stone three years ago so that more people would come to see it.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- You really get things done.<\/dd>\n
- Mizuhara<\/dt>\n
- They say that Japan has a falling birth rate. This means that we can no longer focus only on Japanese people. Districts in all the other areas are also making efforts, so the business people of Ginza also have to try and bring in lots of customers from overseas. With this in mind, we repaved Azuma-dori in stone with the hope that it would be a better atmosphere for foreign customers.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Did the local people take part?<\/dd>\n
- Mizuhara<\/dt>\n
- Yes, all the people that run shops on Azuma-dori were very cooperative. The project was also made possible by grants from Tokyo and Chuo City.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- How has the stone paving been received after actually rebuilding the street?<\/dd>\n
- Mizuhara<\/dt>\n
- It has been well received. My daughter said that she worries she\u2019ll get the heel of her shoes caught, but everyone else has praised it for its great atmosphere.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Only a daughter could give such a comment after all her dad\u2019s hard work (laughs). But I do think that Azuma-dori is really wonderful. I thought it looked like a street in Europe.<\/dd>\n
- Mizuhara<\/dt>\n
- I am happy to hear you say so. Ginza is making these kinds of efforts, so I hope it becomes a place that many people visit.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n\n
![](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/Connect_17_08.jpg\")
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nThe next guest will be\u2026<\/h4>\n\n- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Could you tell us about the next guest?<\/dd>\n
- Mizuhara<\/dt>\n
- It\u2019s Keisuke Anzai , president of Ginza Daikokuya, a specialty handbag shop that has been around since the Edo period. I\u2019m sure you will hear stories about the shop\u2019s history, the handbags he designed himself, and his thoughts on Ginza.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n\n
![](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/Connect_17_09.jpg\")
<\/p>\n\nChisako Takashima<\/h4>\n
Violinist. Started playing the violin at age 6. After playing abroad, she moved her home base to Japan, and gives concerts all over the country. Although her current focus is on performing music, she also appears on TV and radio programs. Thanks to her much-loved personality, she is appearing in more and more venues.<\/p>\n
- \n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Seigetsudo now has a restaurant, caf\u00e9, and a gallery, right?<\/dd>\n
- Mizuhara<\/dt>\n
- That\u2019s right. We currently have a rental gallery on Ginza 5-Chome, a caf\u00e9 on 6-Chome, and a French restaurant in Shinjuku\u2019s Odakyu Department Store restaurant area.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- How long has your company been in Ginza?<\/dd>\n
- Mizuhara<\/dt>\n
- It was founded in 1947, so this is our 66th year. We ran a restaurant in 5-Chome for 17 years, but it closed three years ago. Now we only have the two places in Ginza \u2014 the caf\u00e9 and the gallery.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- That\u2019s too bad. Still, Seigetsudo has a long history in Ginza. The second person interviewed for this series was Mr. Mizuhara from the Seigetsudo main shop \u2014 the long-standing Japanese style confectionery. Is he a relative of yours?<\/dd>\n
- Mizuhara<\/dt>\n
- Yes, he is. His father and I have the same grandfather, so the current president is my cousin\u2019s son. <\/p>\n
Our grandfather had five sons. One became a journalist for the Asahi Shimbun, and the remaining four took the business route. The founder, who was our grandfather, gave those sons one store each so that they could run businesses alongside each other. My older brother took over the Japanese style confectionery, so my father looked for something different and chose to open a Western-style restaurant and caf\u00e9.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- So, Seigetsudo has been connected to Ginza since your grandfather\u2019s generation. Have you lived in Ginza in your whole life?<\/dd>\n
- Mizuhara<\/dt>\n
- I used to live in Ginza. The American occupation forces came when I was little, and it was said that Ginza was no longer a place for kids to play, so we moved to Yotsuya. Both my father and I went to kindergartens around here. Back then the best places to play were on the roofs of department stores.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/p>\n
Ginza Seigetsudo in Shinjuku\u2019s Odakyu Department Store<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nThe drink that Shotaro Ikenami loved is still popular even today.<\/h4>\n
\n- \n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- When I think of Seigetsudo, I think of LINTARO CAF\u00c9 that is very popular.<\/dd>\n
- Mizuhara<\/dt>\n
- Thank you for saying so. It\u2019s on the second floor of Ginza Kanematsu. The first-generation president of Kanematsu is a truly wonderful person who I strongly admire. He came to me twice, eagerly trying to convince me to set up a shop on the second floor of Kanematsu\u2019s main shop building on 6-Chome. I was very moved and decided to open a caf\u00e9 there. I had also longed to open a shop on Chuo-dori. It is a smallish caf\u00e9 with 28 seats, but it is said to have the best view in Ginza and is loved by many customers.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- I hear your famous cheesecake is absolutely delicious.<\/dd>\n
- Mizuhara<\/dt>\n
- I am proud to say that there are many fans of our cheesecake that we\u2019ve continued making for 35 years. Many prominent people have also told us they love our cheesecakes, so we make them every day. I sometimes even go to the confectionery factory myself to make them.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Really?! You make some yourself?<\/dd>\n
- Mizuhara<\/dt>\n
- Yes, I do (laughs). I actually enjoy making sweets. To make sure we never lose that flavor, myself and another confectioner that has worked for us for many years convey the flavor to others working here.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Because the cheesecake is loved by so many people. I also want to go and try some. I heard that Shotaro Ikenami was a fan of the caf\u00e9.<\/dd>\n
- Mizuhara<\/dt>\n
- Yes. Shotaro Ikenami liked our coffee and cream soda, and even wrote so in his book. One of our staff shared his hometown, so he came to the caf\u00e9 many times. Even now, many customers ask to have the same drink that Shotaro Ikenami used to have. I am very grateful.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Nothing beats relaxing and watching the streets of Ginza.<\/dd>\n
- Mizuhara<\/dt>\n
- Surely (laughs). The view is great, so we had a flood of inquiries for the recent Olympic parade and for the Giants\u2019 victory parade. Please come by when you have a chance.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- I will!<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/p>\n
Famous cheesecake<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
\nI learned everything about the mindset and spirit of a business person in Ginza from my strict father.<\/h4>\n
- \n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Your father was the founder. What was he like?<\/dd>\n
- Mizuhara<\/dt>\n
- My father was always strict, but he taught me well. I remember him often telling me that Ginza-dori was the street customers walked down, so business people were not to walk down the middle of the street.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- He was very thorough.<\/dd>\n
- Mizuhara<\/dt>\n
- He had a habit of saying, \u201cIf a customer comes for one cup of coffee every day, in one year they are a shareholder with 360 shares.\u201d We must remember our gratitude and give them dividends like a nice atmosphere and delicious coffee, which they deserve as a shareholder. I was strictly told that we must work just as diligently as the amount of support we received from those customers. My father really cherished our regulars.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- His love for his customers is admirable.<\/dd>\n
- Mizuhara<\/dt>\n
- My father also told me that there are many streets with \u201cGinza\u201d in their name all over the country, and that we in the original Ginza must always give our best for the sake of all those local places assuming its name.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- He may have been strict, but your father taught you some wonderful things.<\/dd>\n
- Mizuhara<\/dt>\n
- He passed away at age 92. I learned everything from my father, including to be courteous to others and the spirit of conducting business with all your heart and soul.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Now you run the business as a family with your son and daughter?<\/dd>\n
- Mizuhara<\/dt>\n
- Yes, my son is the general manager of the restaurant in Shinjuku. My daughter worked elsewhere for a period, but now she works in our administration office. We have a cozy group of us plus 10 or so employees.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
Newly paved in stone, Azuma-dori greets people from around the world.<\/h4>\n
\n- \n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- I heard that you were involved in the restoration of Azuma-dori.<\/dd>\n
- Mizuhara<\/dt>\n
- Yes. We repaved Azuma-dori in stone three years ago so that more people would come to see it.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- You really get things done.<\/dd>\n
- Mizuhara<\/dt>\n
- They say that Japan has a falling birth rate. This means that we can no longer focus only on Japanese people. Districts in all the other areas are also making efforts, so the business people of Ginza also have to try and bring in lots of customers from overseas. With this in mind, we repaved Azuma-dori in stone with the hope that it would be a better atmosphere for foreign customers.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Did the local people take part?<\/dd>\n
- Mizuhara<\/dt>\n
- Yes, all the people that run shops on Azuma-dori were very cooperative. The project was also made possible by grants from Tokyo and Chuo City.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- How has the stone paving been received after actually rebuilding the street?<\/dd>\n
- Mizuhara<\/dt>\n
- It has been well received. My daughter said that she worries she\u2019ll get the heel of her shoes caught, but everyone else has praised it for its great atmosphere.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Only a daughter could give such a comment after all her dad\u2019s hard work (laughs). But I do think that Azuma-dori is really wonderful. I thought it looked like a street in Europe.<\/dd>\n
- Mizuhara<\/dt>\n
- I am happy to hear you say so. Ginza is making these kinds of efforts, so I hope it becomes a place that many people visit.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
The next guest will be\u2026<\/h4>\n
- \n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Could you tell us about the next guest?<\/dd>\n
- Mizuhara<\/dt>\n
- It\u2019s Keisuke Anzai , president of Ginza Daikokuya, a specialty handbag shop that has been around since the Edo period. I\u2019m sure you will hear stories about the shop\u2019s history, the handbags he designed himself, and his thoughts on Ginza.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/p>\n\n
Chisako Takashima<\/h4>\n
Violinist. Started playing the violin at age 6. After playing abroad, she moved her home base to Japan, and gives concerts all over the country. Although her current focus is on performing music, she also appears on TV and radio programs. Thanks to her much-loved personality, she is appearing in more and more venues.<\/p>\n