Place

A heartwarming place where people connect, “Kawaguchi- Shiba, a canteen which connects people”

“A canteen which connects people”――A place where people comes across and can feel comfortable

There are people welcomes who comes here and places where everybody can connect regardless of nationalities, ages and positions in Kawaguchi-city.

One of them is a Children’s cafeteria, which is “Kawaguchi-Shiba, a canteen which connects people”, aiming to create a heartwarming and relaxing place.

The canteen is a facility which doesn’t only serve meals but also take place events, which are Halloween in October and Christmas event in December. People from children to adults can enjoy them together.

People gradually connect then expand our circle little by little.

　We can feel it as a place of local community,” It’s okay to be here.”

The beginning was from his wish, “I want to create activities which are rooted in the local community.”

It was Taguchi-san that started up “Kawaguchi-Shiba, a canteen which connects people”. He is the person involved in the field of education and welfare for a long while so far.

He’s faced many children through his job on one hand. On the other hands he looked back, “I myself haven’t got involved in local community.”

He thought, “I wondered how to live my life from now on.” when he became 70 years old. He decided to start up Children’s cafeteria as he thought, “I want to start up activities which are rooted in local community.

It is said there was a lot of things he couldn’t get done as it was the first time, for example, struggles looking for members and places where they are taken place. During that time he found a brochure of Saitama Mirai University and applied for the course he can study “Creating places where children can belong.” Based on studying and connecting with people there, he started “Kawaguchi-Shiba, a canteen which connects people” in May in 2022.

Welcome anybody. It doesn’t matter nationalities and reasons.

There used to be a few users at the beginning, though, every time there are from 70 to 80 users. Now more than 90 users gathers when there are a lot. About 50 out of them are children.

Many of them are elementary and junior high school students. Some are families that parents and children come together to eat then go back home. Others are children who say due to various reasons,” Today I’ll go home bringing Bento.

At same time there are events, for example, Halloween. At that time everybody is in disguise on one hand. International students show their own culture on the other hand. Everybody has joyful time together.

There was a child who took part in an event who wrote his impression, “It’s fun. I’ll come here every time. I also love curry rice. Foods are yummy. I’m happy.

Today at “Kawaguchi-Shiba, a canteen which connects people.” they hold events once a month. In addition they serve curry rice.

A place which is created with local people

Now “Kawaguchi-Shiba, a canteen which connects people” is created with many people.

They work in cooperation with local welfare and educational public institutions, groups and enterprises. In addition teachers and students of Saitama Gakuen University prepared for events.

Farthermore international volunteer could participate in events through the connection with Saitama Prefecture International Association. Through voices of

Through these activities voices from local people like “I want to take part in activities together.” and “I want to have a talk.”, which are said to be collected naturally. Circle of community is spreading steadily in the center of children.

Developments from now on

Taguchi-san told that in the future he wants to increase the number of places where regional people across generations can feel connected. He gave three examples. First is the places we can have a drink. Second is places we can speak slowly. Third is places we can drop by.

“Kawaguchi-Shiba, a canteen which connects people” is one of the places when you think,” I want to connect anybody.” Even though they don’t have special purposes.

Please have a drop in us by all means if you think these things. For examples, “I want to connect with regions.”, “I want to connect with anybody.” and “I want to eat delicious curry rice.”

「Kawaguchi- Shiba, a canteen which connects people」

・He opens Children’s cafeteria irregularly once a month.

・Please have a look at HP for further information.

https://tsunagaru-shokudo.com/about/

Editor’s note
It is Taguchi-san that started new things when he was 70 and realized his dream which were “Activities rooted in local community one after another. He gave me a lot of heartwarming power through his talk! Seira

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Sri Lankan Curry Restaurant “KOTOBUKI CURRY” ～Dish packed with spices, carrying his sterling passion～

Wafting scent of spices greets you there; “Sri Lankan Curry Restaurant KOTOBUKI CURRY”

What you will find is layers of appetizing aroma of spices and a touch of sweetness of coconut milk.

This restaurant that gives strong tropical vibes the moment you open the door is in Naka-aoki, Kawaguchi, along the Chuo-Doro Avenue.

Inside, there are five counter seats and two tables for two.

How I appreciate this coziness of a smallish place with the warmth of wood that makes you feel at home whenever you visit on your own, with friends or families.

◆Meeting a Sri Lankan “Mum” ignited all

It was “Okasuba Curry” in Ohanajaya, Katsushika Ward, at which Mr. Otomo, the owner, first knew Sri Lankan curry.

He was touched by Sri Lankan “Mum’s” curry with full of hominess and love.

“That Mum’s curry had a taste of the plainest ‘Good old home cooking’”

He felt it was his mission to make this taste widely known. After spending apprenticing time at Okasuba Curry, he opened his own restaurant.

A dish touched with ‘The warmth of Mother’s love’ became the base of “KOTOBUKI CURRY”.

◆Mix everything together before savoring; this is Sri Lankan Style

The distinctive features of enjoying Sri Lankan curry is “Mix everything together before you eat”. A plate is colorfully served with several varieties of curries and side dishes.

I ordered “Five varieties’ platter for ladies” on the day I visited.

The platter is served with indispensable duo of Sri Lankan chicken and Dhal, added by a seasonal curry and two types of side dishes.

Bone-in section of chicken wings are used in this staple Sri Lankan chicken curry. Well-boiled meat is tender enough to come loose in the bowl, and the aroma of spices starts to waft in the air.

It is wonderful to discover that Umami-savory and bitter-sweetness of some dishes as Sardine and Mizuna salad, stir-fried Goya-bitter melon, etc., marks well-balanced accents to show different flavor as you eat.

Deliciously grilled light cracker “Papad” is garnished on top of Basmati, fragrant long-grain Sri Lankan rice. I crushed it to small pieces with my hand to enjoy with curry. Crispy texture brought another dimension to the feast.

Every single imported raw Papads are carefully grilled in his restaurant kitchen.

His enthusiasm is gathered on this one plate.

“You know, spices are ‘Herbal medicine’ that get you in good shape. I am giving attention to what I choose as ingredients and how I cook, also wishing every customer will get energized after enjoyed meal here”

Indeed, it is a dish that lightens your mind and body with every bite you take.

◆Beloved food culture in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is a verdurous tropical island located in the southeast of India. It is gross area is about 80 % of that of Hokkaido.

The wind sways coconut trees to send tropical vibes to the street. Curries with plenty of spices are loved by people there as one of their national cuisines. Its distinctive feature is non-greasiness, and lots of cuisines are packed with “the Wisdom of Food” which supposed to get you in shape.

In the country where the world-renowned tea aroma and fragrant spices are harmonizing in daily life. For them, “Eating” is naturally linked with “Healing”.

◆A dish of sincerity with a living courtesy and passion

Once entered the place, I was welcomed with smiles of the owner and staff. Sincerity came out through their well-mannered service.

The owner used to be an athlete who played on baseball fields as a high school baseball player. The courtesy and persistence learned from that experience are clearly shown on every sublimated dish and gentle atmosphere of this restaurant.

◆“Wish to grow in step with this restaurant”; Realizing long-cherished vision

“My wish is that I can grow in step with this restaurant”

True to the oath, his countless efforts began to produce fruits. The restaurant has become that popular with long waiting lines appear on each weekend.

Each dish made by the owner who keeps going forward not only stimulates you with spices, but impresses you with unfeigned warmth that is true to his visions. A tale of KOTOBUKI CURRY has just begun.

KOTOBUKI CURRY

Open　11：30～15：30（Last orders 15：00）

18：00～21：30（Last orders 21:00）

Closed on 　Sun・Mon・Tue

Editor’s NOTE

Wrapped in the aroma of spices, I know I will come back here.

It satisfies your stomach as well as your mind.　

“KOTOBUKI CURRY” is a place you will find such fantastic dish. Even now, having finished this interview, that aroma still comes back to me sometimes. “Human touch” behind spices must be the quintessence of this restaurant. 　（TOMO）

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Okinawan Cuisine Restaurant “Simajouri”

Haisai! Today, I am going to introduce you an Okinawan cuisine restaurant “Simajouri”, 2 minutes of walk from Nishi-kawaguchi Station. “Haisai!” means “Hello” in Okinawan language.

Okinawa, located in the south part of Japan and consists of small islands, have long been forming a distinguished culture as playing a role of a bridge connecting Asian countries. Cuisines developed there which I am going to show you are also a bit different from the ordinary Japanese cuisine.

Took over from the previous owner, Mr. Nakama, the current owner, reopened this restaurant in September 2025. The name “Simajouri” came from Okinawan beloved flip flops. You will see many such Okinawan language and local place-names in food and drink menus of this restaurant.

Well, let us give a toast to the occasion. How about ordering a widely renowned Okinawan beer or ‘Awamori-distilled Thai-rice liquor’? This restaurant always has a dozen or so stock of Awamoris and one of the perks here is that you can enjoy them with colorfully tinted Ryukyu-glass tumblers.

Have some local delicacies to go with your drink. Salty tastes of “Suku karasu- black rabbitfish fry (Suku means black rabbitfish fry, karasu means food preserved with salt)” or “Wata karasu-salted and fermented bonito gut called Shuto or Shiokara (Wata means entrails) on top of bite-sized Shima-tofu” go perfectly with your drinks.

Before you interrupt me by saying ‘Do not spend too much time on drinking, show me some dishes there’, I am going to show you an Okinawan Tempura. Unique deep-fried “Mozuku-seaweed Tempura” has chewy texture and is served with Okinawan Worcestershire sauce or rock salt.

Most of the dishes here have names straight from Okinawan language. I think it would be better for us to learn some of them on this page.

“Fu Champuru”・・・Stir-fried Fu-wheat gluten bread. Champru means ‘to mix together’. Combination of springy texture of egg-absorbed Fu and richly flavored dried bonito stock brings an exquisite savory.

“Nakami Irichii”・・・Nakami means ‘pork entrails’. Irichii means ‘to stir-fry’. This stir-fried entrails and vegetables goes perfectly well with rice and drinks.

“Hirajachii”・・・Savory pancake dish with chives. Close to Jeon of Korea. In Okinawa, this served with sauce and red pickled ginger.

“Rafte Chahan”・・・Rafte means braised pork belly. One of the luxurious dishes with a chunk of soft Rafte stewed with Awamori and half-cooked egg on top of fried rice.

Aside from the dishes I enjoyed, there are too many Okinawan dishes in this restaurant that I can not show you with a single visit. Each recipe reflects Mr. Nakama’s pride and joy as a long-experienced cook. Nondrinkers can also have fun with trying Okinawa’s local soft drinks such as ‘Root beer’, ‘Shikwasa-flat lemon juice’ and ‘Ucchin-turmeric tea’. The restaurant has both Tatami space which allows you to make yourself at home and counter space. I assure you can steep into the merry Okinawan atmosphere by visiting this restaurant in a group or on your own.

　　On the day I visited, Sadip from Nepal and THI from Vietnam waited on me. Highly international lineup of crew looked very Nishi-kawaguchish. This is exactly a ‘Champuru’ styled Okinawan cuisine restaurant. There is a saying “Ichari ba chodei” (whoever you met is your brothers & sisters) in Okinawa, teaching us to have a mind of building no border in communication. This cordial atmosphere satisfies your stomach and mind at the same time. Why do not you visit Nishi-kawaguchi to feel this tropical ambience?

“Simajouri”

Address:3-14, Nishikawaguchi 1-chome, Kawaguchi City.

Open: 5:00PM ～ 0:00AM

Irregular closing days

Editor’s Note

I secretly planning to keep my own Awamori bottle to become a regular customer here.

By　SPRING the durian lover

Editor SPRING

I am on an endless diet throughout the year.

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Breathing 96 years old Folk House & Space TsuKuRuBa Takezo

One day in the heat of the July sun, I paid a visit to TsuKuRuBa Takezo. This is a lively folk house of 96 years of age. My life in Hatogaya, always pressed with child rearing and work, have already passed 4 years. Whenever I come here, I can take a short break bathing in placidity that makes me feel like getting back to my parents’ home.

Drink I ordered was called Pink Moon Milk. It is a steamed milk-based drink mixed with beetroot, vanilla oil, and pink salt. They also have Blue Moon Milk (butterfly pea; a good antidote for aging!) and White Moon Milk (ginger syrup; good for blood flow). Other drinks you will find on the menu are variety of coffees purchased from “Uminomukou Coffee”, a roaster in Kyoto, ginger ale using homemade ginger syrup, hot chocolate using organic cacao imported from Peru. “Pink Moon Milk is best for an expectant mother”, it was Ms. Shuori Uchida, daughter of the owner of this café, who advised me which one I should have as soon as noticed my bit grown bump. She oversees menu planning and cooking of TsuKuRuBa Takezo.

TsuKuRuBa Takezo is basically a takeout café, but the house is open to the customers to spend freely in a spacious space with ordered drinks and cakes. Shuori’s recommendation is Basque Cheesecake. The most popular menu of this café is Ginger Pound cake. Seasonal sandwiches also appear as limited supply menu. I think I feel like staying here for hours and hours just to think about nothing.

This folk house & space TsuKuRuBa Takezo was opened on October 8^th, 2024. In a location 10 minutes’ walk from Hatogaya station. With sprawling Tatami-mat rooms and Western style rooms, this is a rare semi-Western style folk house. The name Takezo came from the owner Mitsuaki Uchida’s grandfather, Takezo Uchida. He played a wide range of important roles for the community as a doctor, a member of a town assembly, and a person who improved this area’s arable land. With thick bamboo groves and high humidity, residents often had troubles with plagues of mosquitoes. Takezo conducted to improve land around to turn it into a residential quarter. Also, as a doctor, he saw patients who could not afford to pay medical fees for free. Taking over his devotion to community and people, the one who started to create a place which is favored by local community in a different form is Mr. Mitsuaki Uchida, the owner of this café.

Indeed, this house belongs to Mitsuaki’s parents. His mother, who passed away 13 years ago, used to wish that this house to be preserved intact. After she left, he discussed it with his father and decided not only to preserve the house but also to use it in a more practical way such as to be a place to which local people can always come.

　Cracks on the walls and exfoliation on furniture. There is one reason for them. To make the best of its characteristics from 96 years of history, only necessary and minimum renovation has been done to this house. Old fittings and furniture are preserved and repaired as best they can, in doing so, they are tenaciously keeping real-life atmosphere of someone’s old house. Well, that makes sense. I feel as if I am getting back to my parents’ home and relaxing. In here, you can witness a breathing Japanese culture that does not require words to be transmitted.

TsuKuRuBa Takezo

Walk 10 minutes from SR Line “Hatogaya station”

Weekdays 10:30〜18:00　

Sat, Sun, National holidays 10:00〜18:00　

Closed on Tue, Wed

※Admission until 17:00

※Occasionally closed on special circumstances

Editor’s note：

On the day I visited, there was a gathering of a parenting club. The room was filled with voices of moms and babies. Warmth and reminiscence of 96 years old house was watching over it fondly. They said they have other events such as jazz concerts and Rakugo-comical storytelling entertainments once a month. In September, they will have an Ikebana-flower arrangement workshop. I found it hard to tell you the whole charm of this house, so I think it will be best for you to see the attached movie to know more about this place.　(Kurumiyubeshi)

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