This week I took time out to catch up with the very friendly Naoko Kashara. Naoko is the manager of the popular organic food shop - HillsidePantry in Daikanyama, Tokyo.
Naoko started with the company 20 years ago and has been
manager of the shop for many years.
The owner of the Hillside Pantry is Mr. Kengo Asakura, who built
the premises (that Hillside Pantry sits insides) 20 years ago. He loved
international food especially American foods that were organic and wanted to
set up a shop here in Tokyo that offered similar organic products. The building
in Daikanyama is a modern concrete simple structure based on designs from Tribeca
in New York.
Naoko is in charge of buying of all the food products. One
of the first organic brands sold in the shop was Alishan. The shop now sells
international organic products from a wide range of countries including
Germany, France, Spain, Sweden, Italy, Mexico, Singapore, USA, Sri Lanka,
Australia, Mexico, UK, Thailand and New Zealand.
To date the best selling products are herbal teas and dried
fruit, whilst the best selling kid’s health products are raisins. The shop
bakes it own bread daily, one of which is a whole wheat pitta bread which is
baked with natural yeast.
In addition to the baked bread, the shop also offers freshly
made sandwiches, hummus, plenty of fresh vegetables dishes, chicken and fish
dishes. Also a wide selection of organic teas and coffee are available daily.
You can choose sit in the store and soak up the friendly atmosphere or you can
take away.
As for the customers, Naoko says that it is mainly
Daikanyama locals with a number of customers coming in from both the Danish and
Finish Embassy which are located close by. On the weekdays the customers are
mainly foreigners but on the weekend it’s about 50:50 Japanese and foreign
customers.
Naoko’s love for her job and organic food is obvious. Naoko
says the best part of her job is meeting interesting people whilst also being
able to work in an environment that promotes healthy living*.
The Hillside Pantry is located at B1 Hillside terrace, 18-12
Sarugaku-cho, Shibuya-ku. Tokyo
*Please note that I am available to provide Nutrition
consulting at the Hillside Pantry. Please email me at aoifewalley@gmail.com for more details.
