Lintaro Mizuhara×Chisako Takashima

I learned everything about the mindset and spirit of a business person in Ginza from my strict father.

Takashima

Your father was the founder. What was he like?

Mizuhara

My father was always strict, but he taught me well. I remember him often telling me that Ginza-dori was the street customers walked down, so business people were not to walk down the middle of the street.

Takashima

He was very thorough.

Mizuhara

He had a habit of saying, “If a customer comes for one cup of coffee every day, in one year they are a shareholder with 360 shares.” We must remember our gratitude and give them dividends like a nice atmosphere and delicious coffee, which they deserve as a shareholder. I was strictly told that we must work just as diligently as the amount of support we received from those customers. My father really cherished our regulars.

Takashima

His love for his customers is admirable.

Mizuhara

My father also told me that there are many streets with “Ginza” in their name all over the country, and that we in the original Ginza must always give our best for the sake of all those local places assuming its name.

Takashima

He may have been strict, but your father taught you some wonderful things.

Mizuhara

He passed away at age 92. I learned everything from my father, including to be courteous to others and the spirit of conducting business with all your heart and soul.

Takashima

Now you run the business as a family with your son and daughter?

Mizuhara

Yes, my son is the general manager of the restaurant in Shinjuku. My daughter worked elsewhere for a period, but now she works in our administration office. We have a cozy group of us plus 10 or so employees.

Newly paved in stone, Azuma-dori greets people from around the world.