Official
Interview with President Benmatsu 1 ~ Nihonbashi Benmatsu Sohonten~
This is rosemary sea, where we citate "gifts and enjoy yourself."
According to the "First Time Story Map" issued by the Chuo-ku Tourism Association, Nihonbashi Benmatsu Sohonten is introduced as the "store originating from a specialty store for folding dishes."
This shop was founded in 1850 (Kaei 3rd year) has been introduced frequently.
Introduction of the shop ⇒ February 17
History: March 7
Old postcards of Nihonbashi 1 – March 11
Old postcards of Nihonbashi 2 – March 13
This is the President's interview, the first part.
We took care of Mr. Junichi Higuchi, the 8th generation of Nihonbashi Benmatsu Sohonten.
The interview, the start.
1 It is said that Nihonbashi Benmatsu Sohonten is a shop that originated in a folding dish specialty store.
There may be a shop that was founded as a "lunch shop" a month earlier and collapsed immediately, but there are no complaints from anywhere that say "we are faster".
So, wasn't it unusual to have a lunch box only?
I think there was a restaurant where a restaurant made a lunch box with one hand, but I think that the business format was small with lunch boxes alone. Other than ours.
That's why I feel that it wasn't easy to remain until the present day.
1 Does it mean that it is the oldest existing lunch shop?
At the time of my father's generation, NHK came to cover a program featuring lunch boxes, but it was to cover the Kanto and Kansai regions.
My father thought that the old one was from Kyoto. I think there is also an older lunch shop.
If so, Kyoto is the main restaurant, and the lunch shop is the lower part of it.
1 The oldest shop according to NHK's survey is in Kyoto...
I didn't.
I think it was a program of 50 years ago, but I think we are the oldest in Japan.
On the basis of that, he said (the oldest existing one).
Is it a gray part that can't be said to be said to have been the origin of the lunch shop?
On the other hand, I want you to teach me. I'd be happy to be number two. (laughs)
1 Was it here in Nihonbashi that was founded?
The place here should be almost the same as when it was founded.
It was vacant twice in the Great Kanto Earthquake and the Great Tokyo Air Raid, and at that time I probably did not survey.
(All family members) Luckily, no one died.
I ran away and came back, and apparently it was the first victory, so I think it's probably because it's large or position.
When I was born, there was a store built after the war, and it was a two-story building, a store and a kitchen, and the second floor was the home part.
My grandmother only lived here. I rented an apartment in Monzennakacho because it was too small for my family.
In the Showa 50 years, it was a line of COREDO Muromachi 1.2, but we built one basement floor and five floors above ground, and everyone came to live together.
In addition, 30 years later, it became obsolete, so I first moved only the factory to permanent in Koto-ku.
(The place where the company was founded) was a parking lot for employees, so I returned to the place where the company was founded and built a building for the head office and home.
Completely separate manufacturing and head office.
1 When is the sign in the first floor store?
The sign was after the war.
Even before the war, you can't run away with such things.
1 He was taken over when the seventh father died.
More than 20 years ago.
My father's brother, uncle, adopted son-in-law, went to Tochio, Niigata Prefecture, now Nagaoka City, and served as president at a restaurant or restaurant, so I left university and took care of it for two years.
When I came back and got a job (in Benmatsu), I knew it was impossible to take a long vacation, so I was able to save a little, so I went on a trip for about three months and got a job at my parents' house.
Most of us are always very busy at the end of the year, but I knew that was part-time at home from junior high school students.
He said, "Come back at dusk," so he came back before Christmas in December.
I joined the company as a full-time employee at the beginning of the year, but in June of that year (my father) suddenly died, so I became president (in six months).
1 The characteristic of Benmatsu's lunch box is "deep taste". How long is it made a day?
(Taste) It is mainly the craftsmen who take over. The factory has less than 30 people, including part-time workers.
(The number is) About 1,000 pieces on base, including the amount delivered to department stores.
Plus, today there are 100 from a certain temple or 100 from a certain university, and there are 1,200 days and 2,000 days.
There are more events on weekends and holidays, so the number of events will increase.
1 Which is the most popular product? What is the second most popular?
The most popular one is "Namiroku". (Picture above)
It's two steps. This can also be red rice. You can only cook.
The second most popular is "Shirozume", one step.
Because it moves around 1,000 yen in the price range.
Other side dishes and boiled foods sold by Mitsukoshi and Takashimaya. There are many people who buy only egg ware.
It's a kinton or a single item.
1 The former Isao of the Meiji era, Tsugumichi Saigo, also ordered Benmatsu's lunch box.
I didn't know that at all.
Some of the stores that were used by great people and celebrities in Meiji period, and wrote them in books, and the writer looked up about us.
It seems to have taken the back.
・・Continue to the second part.
Nihonbashi Benmatsu Sohonten
1-10-7, Nihonbashimuromachi
3 minutes from Mitsukoshimae Station on the Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line and Ginza Line
０３－３２７９－２３６１
Business hours Weekdays 9:30 to 15:00
Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays 9:30 to 12:30
Telephone reception Weekdays 8:30-16:00
Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays 8:30 to 13:00
Click here for the website of Nihonbashi Benmatsu Sohonten