Thank you for opening this article. My name is Ikeda, and I am the manager of Chasanraku.
Chasanraku has reached its 10th anniversary.
What has remained unchanged and important to me for the past 10 years is the desire to "help people enjoy enriching moments through tea."
Tea is more than just delicious. It connects people, fosters conversation and encounters, and enriches the soul. We wanted you to experience the power of tea, and at the same time, to learn about the culture of Japan and Kyoto. That's how Chasanraku began.
Initially, we would brew tea in front of our customers, talking about tea and brewing methods, and also offered lunch and tea ceremony experiences. Since then, we have adapted to the times and customer needs by introducing an online store and takeout options.
Among all of those experiences, shaved ice became a major turning point for me.
We wanted people to enjoy tea even during the hot summer months. We wanted them to feel refreshed through tea and spend enriching time in their hearts. This challenge stemmed from that desire.
Nowadays, people come to our shop not only from Japan but also from overseas specifically for our shaved ice. Looking back, Chasanraku has come a decade ago through a series of these changes and challenges.
And I myself have changed.
Ten years ago, I thought that I could improve Chasanraku if I just worked hard. But now, I feel that Chasanraku is created through the interactions with many people, including the staff, tea farmers, suppliers, and customers.
From "a shop I create" to "a shop we create together." That's perhaps the biggest change I've experienced in the last 10 years.
On the other hand, some things remain unchanged.
Over the course of these 10 years, there have been difficult times, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. When I walked through Arashiyama, which was usually bustling with people, it was eerily quiet, and I felt the mountains, rivers, wind, and the changing seasons more strongly than ever before.
At that moment, I realized once again, "Arashiyama is a really wonderful place."
Arashiyama has been a place where people have come to enjoy nature and the changing seasons, and to seek respite from the heat during the hot months, since the Heian period.
Even when the crowds disappear, the seasons continue to turn, revealing their ever-changing beauty. Arashiyama possesses that kind of unchanging charm.
Something that has captivated people for hundreds of years is still here today.
The same is true for Japanese tea and the tea ceremony. They are not something we created, but rather things that have been carefully passed down by many people over many years.
There is a limit to the time we can continue the three joys of tea. Nevertheless, tea and the tea ceremony will endure beyond that.
That's why we believe we are in a position to pass on what we've received from our predecessors, adapting it to the present age, and passing it on to the next generation.
What I want to prioritize going forward is ensuring that everyone involved with Chasanraku becomes prosperous.
Our goal is to provide our customers with a fulfilling experience, for our staff to feel that working here is worthwhile, and for tea farmers and everyone involved to enrich their lives through their connection with Chasanraku.
We will change what needs to be changed.
We will cherish and protect what remains unchanged.
And we will pass on the richness of Arashiyama and the culture of tea to the next generation.
I hope to one day visit a shop that has been around for over 100 years.
And we want to create a place where, when people visit Arashiyama, they think, "I want to come back to Chasanraku again."
Thank you so much for the past 10 years.
We will continue to evolve and move forward step by step, staying true to the Chasanraku spirit.
