Fortune Teller In Tokyo to Entrepreneur In Galle - Chiyako Kaji Owner of Tokyo Ice Restaurant
Today we present to you our interview with Entrepreneur Mrs. Chikayo Kaji, the owner of Tokiyo Ice Restaurant Galle.
Madam Chikkayo tell us about Tokyo Ice Restaurant in brief ?
Japan is a culinary wonderland. Tokyo Ice offers the kind of Japanese food any Japanese person would have had since childhood. It’s the kind of homemade food your mother prepared.We have tried our best to keep the cost down to suit the Sri Lankan market. Part of the profit will be used support the needy in Sri Lanka. Here at Tokyo Ice, you can have a hands on experience of eating one of a kind type of Japanese everyday cuisine.
How was your life in Japan?
I am a fortune teller based in Japan and have advised many people globally.I have watched my mother run a restaurant for over 20 years as a single mother raising my brother and myself which I am very grateful for.
Sri Lanka is a country where many people want to move to japan.but you thought of moving from japan to Sri Lanka. What make you thought to move ?
Many friends laughed when I said I would start a Japanese restaurant to suit the local market. Currency value is quite different in the two countries.I have known Sri Lankan's seeking opportunities overseas and many countries have supported your country in various ways.I have donated funds raised in Japan to support the poor segment of Sri Lanka.
Through my activities, I have learnt that it is not only Colombo which has the buying power but also Galle. The standard of living is on the rise here.Donation and fund raising is surely one way to support Sri Lanka.
I thought if I could offer the taste back home at an affordable price along with the Japanese OMOTENASHI spirit and beyond food, it is the experience factors that makes my restraint unique.
By opening a shop we help boost the economy by increasing job opportunities. As mentioned before some of the profit we make will be donated to help the needy.
These are some of the initial reasons why I opened my shop here.
What are the Challenges faced by you when you start your business ?
No.1. Taste
How to make crushed ice to suit the Sri Lankan customers was a big challenge. We did a market research and it was trial and error again and again till the last minute. It was only the night before the opening that we finalized he recipe.And our effort to offer the stable high quality Japanese taste continues.
No.2 Price
My price originally was set a little higher. We need to keep in mind that this is not an NPO and we need to stay profitable to kept the operation going.Nevertheless, my first goal was to make a affordable restaurant open to all and after discussing with friends and acquaintances I have decided on a tough but sustainable price.
No.3 Training staff
Training the staff how to cook and also customer service, how to maintain the fridge, stock taking, teaching hygiene concept took a lot of my time.
No. 4 Some products not readily available here
It was difficult to find some of the ingredients locally.Now I have some friends who is supporting me find things locally.
How did you overcome the challenges and developed your business
I have to be very patient and devoted in order to keep the quality of food/taste and train the staff. Strict double checking details each time is the key.Some of the check points are, the amount of salt and sauce used, how to dish up the plates, where to place the chopsticks, keeping the fridge tidy, keeping everything neatly in place all throughout the shop.I constantly tell my staff not to even think that “this should do”.
Tell us about specialties in Japanese food ?
As already mentioned, Japanese food comes in all levels, the posh and expensive ones to everyday homemade cooking and this makes the question a bit difficult to answer.Here at Tokyo Ice, I try to offer home-made dishes or food that is familiar to those who have spent some time in Japan.You will not find here what you found in Colombo’s expensive high-end Japanese restaurant. If you ever lived in Japan, the food will definitely remind you of your days spent in Japan. You will say to yourself, “I know this taste!”
What is the difference between Tokyo Ice & other restaurants in Galle?
My goal is to operate a sustainable restraint and also make contribution to society. I am not planning to offer elaborate and expensive Japanese food but offer something which is good bur affordable. For those who have tasted it before I hope it will bring back good memories of the time you had in Japan. I hope the restaurant will be a bridge between the two countries and cultures. Social contribution has priority over profitability at my restaurant.
What do you think about Galle growth potential ?
Galle is famous for tourism but the city and the national government should further promote foreign investment. So far I have only seen such activities on a personal level. It needs to be centralized and systemized.I find that Sri Lankans are very enthusiastic about education. By improving educational facilities, I am sure it will attract many foreign students to come and study and this will lead to further development.
Why do you think Japanese people should invest in Sri Lanka ?
I feel that there is much more to be done. Instead of investing in infrastructure, I think people should invest in education.
You are highly involve with social work also tell us about it in brief ?
Since last year, I have helped to build housing for the poor families.Starting this year, I have also supported homes for the disabled from poor families. Part of the restaurant profit will be donated to the organization.
Whats your next objective in Tokyo Ice ?
I have many objectives but I consider myself as a person with intuition rather than intellectual reasoning. In a way this means that objectives and goals sort of “fall” on me when it comes. I look ahead but prefer to “live this moment to the fullest”.
The good thing is that once the concept or the goal is set, I am quick to make realistic actions.
What is your message for future Entrepreneurs?
Don’t be afraid to break the rules.There is a market for everything.It is the passion and the luck of the entrepreneurs to make it happen.
Good luck to you all.
Interviewed by
Harindu Danthanarayana
Chief Marketing Officer
AENZ International
Japan is a culinary wonderland. Tokyo Ice offers the kind of Japanese food any Japanese person would have had since childhood. It’s the kind of homemade food your mother prepared.We have tried our best to keep the cost down to suit the Sri Lankan market. Part of the profit will be used support the needy in Sri Lanka. Here at Tokyo Ice, you can have a hands on experience of eating one of a kind type of Japanese everyday cuisine.
How was your life in Japan?
I am a fortune teller based in Japan and have advised many people globally.I have watched my mother run a restaurant for over 20 years as a single mother raising my brother and myself which I am very grateful for.
Sri Lanka is a country where many people want to move to japan.but you thought of moving from japan to Sri Lanka. What make you thought to move ?
Many friends laughed when I said I would start a Japanese restaurant to suit the local market. Currency value is quite different in the two countries.I have known Sri Lankan's seeking opportunities overseas and many countries have supported your country in various ways.I have donated funds raised in Japan to support the poor segment of Sri Lanka.
Through my activities, I have learnt that it is not only Colombo which has the buying power but also Galle. The standard of living is on the rise here.Donation and fund raising is surely one way to support Sri Lanka.
I thought if I could offer the taste back home at an affordable price along with the Japanese OMOTENASHI spirit and beyond food, it is the experience factors that makes my restraint unique.
By opening a shop we help boost the economy by increasing job opportunities. As mentioned before some of the profit we make will be donated to help the needy.
These are some of the initial reasons why I opened my shop here.
What are the Challenges faced by you when you start your business ?
No.1. Taste
How to make crushed ice to suit the Sri Lankan customers was a big challenge. We did a market research and it was trial and error again and again till the last minute. It was only the night before the opening that we finalized he recipe.And our effort to offer the stable high quality Japanese taste continues.
No.2 Price
My price originally was set a little higher. We need to keep in mind that this is not an NPO and we need to stay profitable to kept the operation going.Nevertheless, my first goal was to make a affordable restaurant open to all and after discussing with friends and acquaintances I have decided on a tough but sustainable price.
No.3 Training staff
Training the staff how to cook and also customer service, how to maintain the fridge, stock taking, teaching hygiene concept took a lot of my time.
No. 4 Some products not readily available here
It was difficult to find some of the ingredients locally.Now I have some friends who is supporting me find things locally.
How did you overcome the challenges and developed your business
I have to be very patient and devoted in order to keep the quality of food/taste and train the staff. Strict double checking details each time is the key.Some of the check points are, the amount of salt and sauce used, how to dish up the plates, where to place the chopsticks, keeping the fridge tidy, keeping everything neatly in place all throughout the shop.I constantly tell my staff not to even think that “this should do”.
Tell us about specialties in Japanese food ?
As already mentioned, Japanese food comes in all levels, the posh and expensive ones to everyday homemade cooking and this makes the question a bit difficult to answer.Here at Tokyo Ice, I try to offer home-made dishes or food that is familiar to those who have spent some time in Japan.You will not find here what you found in Colombo’s expensive high-end Japanese restaurant. If you ever lived in Japan, the food will definitely remind you of your days spent in Japan. You will say to yourself, “I know this taste!”
What is the difference between Tokyo Ice & other restaurants in Galle?
My goal is to operate a sustainable restraint and also make contribution to society. I am not planning to offer elaborate and expensive Japanese food but offer something which is good bur affordable. For those who have tasted it before I hope it will bring back good memories of the time you had in Japan. I hope the restaurant will be a bridge between the two countries and cultures. Social contribution has priority over profitability at my restaurant.
What do you think about Galle growth potential ?
Galle is famous for tourism but the city and the national government should further promote foreign investment. So far I have only seen such activities on a personal level. It needs to be centralized and systemized.I find that Sri Lankans are very enthusiastic about education. By improving educational facilities, I am sure it will attract many foreign students to come and study and this will lead to further development.
Why do you think Japanese people should invest in Sri Lanka ?
I feel that there is much more to be done. Instead of investing in infrastructure, I think people should invest in education.
You are highly involve with social work also tell us about it in brief ?
Since last year, I have helped to build housing for the poor families.Starting this year, I have also supported homes for the disabled from poor families. Part of the restaurant profit will be donated to the organization.
Whats your next objective in Tokyo Ice ?
I have many objectives but I consider myself as a person with intuition rather than intellectual reasoning. In a way this means that objectives and goals sort of “fall” on me when it comes. I look ahead but prefer to “live this moment to the fullest”.
The good thing is that once the concept or the goal is set, I am quick to make realistic actions.
What is your message for future Entrepreneurs?
Don’t be afraid to break the rules.There is a market for everything.It is the passion and the luck of the entrepreneurs to make it happen.
Good luck to you all.
Interviewed by
Harindu Danthanarayana
Chief Marketing Officer
AENZ International
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