Dialogue - Uguisu and Grain Rain -
"To make people feel good"
This feeling is the driving force behind the activities of Nana Suzuki, owner of "Uguisu to Kokuu."
We asked them about the thoughts behind their bread and their shop, which remind us of the importance of the everyday things we take for granted.
Spirit engraved in things
"Uguisu to Kokuu" is located in Zoshigaya, Tokyo. Upon climbing the stairs and opening the wooden door, you are greeted by the fragrant aroma of bread and pastries lovingly made by Suzuki.
The interior of the store is decorated with antiques. Suzuki says he is attracted to inheriting things that people have been using for a long time. The stories behind each item overlap to create a comfortable space.
The interior was designed by Katsuya Sato of "Hiiro Ookami + Flower Shop Nishibeppu Shoten." The day after he decided to open a shop, he visited the store in Aoyama for the first time and saw the space where antiques and fresh flowers, which are opposing elements, coexist, so he asked Sato to design it.
"When I look at old things, I get a strong sense of how in the past, when there were no such things, people used them with care, patching them up, sewing them, and changing their shapes. I want to cherish the spirit of that way of life."
What we want to connect
"Uguisu and Grain Rain" - a lyrical store name that sounds like a line from a poem.
The store name "uguisu" (Japanese bush warbler) comes from the phrase "uguisu naku" (the Japanese bush warbler singing) which is one of the 72 seasonal divisions that represents the coming of spring. "Kokuu" (grain rain) in the 24 solar terms means the rain that falls at the end of spring, which is necessary for grains to grow in the summer. A Japanese bush warbler arrives on a branch that has withered in winter. The buds swell, flowers begin to bloom, the Japanese bush warbler flies away, and the scenery becomes lush with leaves.
The store name, which combines these two words, expresses our desire for it to be a place where people can stop, fill their stomachs, and calm their minds, just as time passes, just like the seasons change.
"I believe there is energy that can be gained from eating, and energy that can be gained from spending time in a space. It's not just about filling your stomach with food and nutrition, but also the music that enters your ears, the information you see with your eyes, the antique furniture and flowers on display, the presence of the people sharing the space, and so on. I want people to feel something in their hearts after experiencing all of this. I have always thought that it is only when I have a place that I can complete the work I want to do, and so I created this place."
Bread that fits into your life
When Suzuki was in high school, he was interested in Western sweets and wanted to become a pastry chef.
At one point, Suzuki decided that he wanted to make bread that could be eaten every day, not just on special occasions, but something that people could eat casually, and that would build on that experience and lead to the next day. With this in mind, he started making bread for the first time at the age of 24.
"I felt like I was able to understand bread in a way that was different from thinking about it, reading a book, or researching. It wasn't about baking it well the first time, but rather, by repeatedly working with the dough, you gradually come to understand it better. I was also attracted to the idea that it is something that is necessary in everyday life."
Suzuki wants to make bread that can be eaten every day.
After much trial and error, their signature product, a sliced bread called "Mainichi," was created by considering not only the taste of the bread, but also its shape, appearance, and overall balance.
It is imbued with the message, "Eat breakfast every day and start your day feeling energized."
Days pass by in the blink of an eye. That is why, when we are no longer able to do the things we take for granted, we suddenly realize how wonderful those things are.
Spending time at "Uguisu to Kokuu" reminds us of the importance of the everyday things that we take for granted.
A moment of calm
At the "Yellow Wolf + Flower Shop Nishibeppu Shoten Exhibition," toast plates and baked goods will be available in the cafe.
The exhibition's cafe was like opening the door to "The Nightingale and the Grain Rain," and was filled with delicious bread and antique furniture that you could gaze upon with poignant splendor, and the aroma of baked goods was in perfect harmony.
What were their thoughts as they set out to set up a stall at this event for the second time?
"I wanted to share the effect that spending time at Utsushiki and the surrounding scenery have on the body and mind through the five senses, and to become an opportunity to make daily decisions with a lighter touch. If people can eat bread that nourishes both their mind and body and feel even a little more energetic than before they ate it, that would be the greatest joy I get from making bread."
After our conversation , and before the exhibition, we visited the shop for an interview. She also shared an episode from when she was the manager of the track and field club in high school. At the time, her teacher told her that "Nana's voice has the power to cheer people up," and this inspired her to want to do something to cheer people up. Her unwavering desire to "create a place that cheers people up" was apparent in our conversations between interviews, and we could tell from her that just being there mysteriously made everyone smile, and that she naturally wanted everyone to smile, even without even realizing it.
Interviewer and writer: Yoshiaki Ono
Yellow Wolf + Flower Shop Nishibeppu Shop ExhibitionKesnoe Zercalo – A Small Mirror of the Forest –
There is always a gateway to a mysterious world near you. Don't forget it.
I want to spend it forever
Saturday, June 20th – Sunday, June 28th
No breaks during the period 13:00-18:00
