top of page
James Farrer
Jan 417 min read
A Business Model for Better Living
With a reputation for quirky independent businesses, Nishiogi (Nishi-Ogikubo) has become a magnet for wannabe gastronomic entrepreneurs....
16 views
James Farrer
May 7, 202412 min read
A Three-Generation Restaurant in a Changing Neighborhood
A three-generation soba restaurants creates new dishes to stay up with the times, while holding on to a neighborhood clientele.
230 views
James Farrer
Apr 19, 202422 min read
South Indian Cuisine from a Japanese Couple
How did a husband a wife with no experience in the food and beverage industry fall in love with the cuisine of a distant region and spend...
307 views
James Farrer
Mar 28, 202412 min read
A Mountain Survival Hut in Tokyo’s Urban Jungle
In the bustling heart of Nishiogi’s crowded drinking street is a hole-in-the-wall bar with a smart wood-trimmed interior and a rotating...
130 views
James Farrer
Jan 20, 202410 min read
A Hidden Ibasho For Music Lovers
Many people dream of opening a small shop or a café as a way of supplementing their income, connecting to a community, or sharing...
119 views
James Farrer
Jan 2, 202414 min read
The Wandering Restaurateur
Mashiko Yuuki is an unconventional restaurateur, a wanderer with dry humor and restless creative energy. Mashiko is owner-chef at Pic Nic...
80 views
James Farrer
Dec 25, 202315 min read
Ownership Succession in a Popular Neighborhood Restaurant
Nishiogi has many aging establishments with a loyal following of regulars, but one of the burning questions for most is who will take...
91 views
James Farrer
Sep 8, 202315 min read
A Woman Chef Creates a Space of Her Own
Exiting left from the North Exit of Nishi-Ogikubo JR Station, pedestrians, buses, and cars jostle along the narrow Fushimi Street....
203 views
James Farrer
Sep 5, 20239 min read
A Michelin Recommended Ramen Shop
When Tokyo people think of a neighborhood for ramen, Ogikubo would make the list with its famous shoyu-based soups. In contrast,...
362 views
James Farrer
Jun 9, 202321 min read
A Café, a Tree, and 10,000 Supporters
Standing in a park a residential area about a 10-minute walk from the north exit of Nishiogikubo Station is a magnificent zelkova...
148 views
James Farrer
Mar 26, 20238 min read
The End of a Nishiogi Landmark
In late March 2022, long lines formed in front of the French Restaurant and Bakery Kokeshiya, directly outside the South Exit of the JR...
132 views
James Farrer
Jan 23, 202318 min read
A Restaurant Owner as Community Activist
Sanninto – literally “three-person lantern” is a cozy dining bar on Heiwa-Dori street in Nishi-Ogikubo. A perfect spot for a quiet drink...
319 views
James Farrer
Dec 28, 202210 min read
Facing the Pandemic, a Big Restaurant Group Aims Small
Nishi-Ogikubo is known for independent restaurants. However, corporate-owned restaurants are increasing in the neighborhood. On March 31,...
144 views
James Farrer
Aug 4, 20229 min read
How to Succeed as an F&B Microbusiness (Cheesecake)
A baker describes how he set up his own micro-business in Nishiogi with the help of a consultancy.
166 views
James Farrer
Jul 22, 202210 min read
A Green Tea Business Modeled on Coffee Culture
Green tea might be regarded as Japan’s national drink. It is associated with the tea ceremony and was Japan’s first major export “brand.”...
363 views
James Farrer
Jul 8, 202210 min read
A Café Seeking its Local Identity
(In our previous article We describe the founding of the Nishiogi Koto Building, an alternative development scheme of the Nishogi Koto...
177 views
James Farrer
Jun 27, 20228 min read
Seeking Work Life Balance in an At-Home Café
日本語で読む The pandemic has been a time of great disruptions in the restaurant business, requiring ingenuity and perseverance. Owners,...
78 views
James Farrer
Jun 19, 202212 min read
Imagining Nishiogi’s Future in a Building
日本語で読む On April 29, 2022, about 30 Nishi-Ogikubo residents and visitors filed into the Nishiogi Cinema, for the inaugural film showing in...
188 views
James Farrer
May 25, 20227 min read
Pioneering a Bagel Franchise During the Pandemic
日本語で読む Bringing a Franchise Model to Nishiogi Starting a small gastronomic business during COVID is challenging. For people looking to...
193 views
James Farrer
May 25, 20221 min read
Archived Articles・前の記事
Posts before 2022 can be found on the Archive Page. 2022年前の記事はARCHIVEのページで見られる。
109 views
bottom of page