Shinbashi, Shinagawa, Odaibapreserved food boiled in soycooked beans
Tsukudani and ochazuke are perfect for warm rice. Surprising Western-style furikake that have been talked about in many media. Akitonou fish with Guerande salt and fig glace that matches with wine. …… Established 240 years ago, Shimbashi Tamakiya continues to produce food products that add color to our dining table with the skills and vivid sensibility of a long-established company. Starting with Tamakiya’s history and motto, we interviewed Kyoko Tamaki, the tenth generation of the company, about the secrets of its innovation.
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Forest:From here, I would like to ask you about innovations at Shimbashi Tamakiya.
Mr. Tamaki:This is a product called “Akitagishi Guerande Salt” made with perfect sun-dried salt from the Guerande region in France. It can be served from the head to the bones, is highly nutritious, and goes well with wine. When I became president, it was right around the time of the peak of the Corona disaster. I heard that more and more people were enjoying wine at home while they could not eat out, and I wanted to find something that would please them, so I took a hint from our popular product “Akitagashi-no-Sansho” and developed it.
Many people have started new endeavors in the wake of the Corona Disaster, and I feel that wine is one of the major points of focus.
Even in department stores, there is only so much that can be done within the tsukudani section, so we aimed to create a product that could be easily placed in wine specialty stores. As a result, we were able to develop new sales channels, and I think we were able to reach both Tamakiya’s original customers and those who are not Tamakiya’s customers.
Originally, Tamakiya was engaged in the production of sansho (pickled saury), and had a route to purchase excellent saury and a good sense of taste. By adding Guerande salt, you discovered new processing possibilities, and went out to find new points of contact with new customers.
We also offer other slightly Western-style products such as “Sekai no Furikake” (sprinkles from around the world). Young people who don’t usually eat tsukudani may think that Tamakiya is a furikake shop (laughs). (Laughs.) “So you used to be a tsukudani shop! Originally, it was a tsukudani shop! We are also receiving an increasing number of gifts from young people to give to their parents, grandfathers, and grandmothers. In this way, Tamakiya hopes to broaden its appeal to people of all ages through its various products.
I would like to say to everyone that Tamakiya’s furikake is truly amazing, with its substantial ingredients. It has changed my preconceived notion of furikake (laugh). (Laughs.) I encourage everyone to search for “long-established mail-order shops,” buy some, eat it, and experience it for yourselves. Furikake and tsukudani are in close proximity to each other, but it is a matter of great taste in terms of seafood procurement and processing, as well as choosing what is best suited for both.
Furikake was the taste of my mother, who was the predecessor of my mother. Furikake with Italian tomatoes” was also something my mother made out of pasta sauce for home use, just for fun. But just when we were about to give up on it, Akimoto Yasushi introduced it in “BRUTUS” magazine, and now we are expanding our lineup to include Western-style products. This bold reform is the result of my mother’s sensitivity to Western-style products.
I also run my own company, and I realize every day how difficult it is to take on a challenge that is completely different from anything I have ever done before (laughs). (laughs) But sometimes, just when you think you’ve lost your way, God opens the way for you.
Mr. Tamaki: I really do. So I really learn from my mother’s courage and spirit of reform.
Developing new products by utilizing the spirit of innovation inherited from his mother
It is amazing to hear you talk about her, as if she were a godmother. Your courageous attitude toward challenges has been passed on to the 10th generation, as evidenced by the development of “Akitogi Guerande Salt” and others. I also received a bottle of “Fig Glace.” How is that product positioned in Tamakiya?
Mr. Tamaki: In my mother’s time, figs had the image of being a tree in the backyard of a Japanese house. On the other hand, they are also known as a historical fruit in Europe, such as “the first plantation by mankind” and “loved by Cleopatra. Therefore, “Fig Glace” was created with the desire to give “fig nectar” a fashionable image that would go well with wine.
It’s really delicious and goes well with wine. Wine fans are a tricky lot, so they really enjoy the oddball combinations. That’s what makes …… so poignant. In the genealogy, it’s natto, but it’s like a child who went abroad to study. Are there any other challenges for Tamakiya?
We had been putting a lot of effort into our own website and e-commerce before I took over. That helped us when the Corona disaster took people’s attention away from our stores. I would like to continue to strengthen it.
Can you tell us about your future prospects?
On August 22, 2022, we will be relocating our Shinbashi main store to Shintora-dori. We are planning to add a new look to the restaurant while cherishing the goodness of the current location, so please look forward to it.
I wish I could visit you more than ever. Finally, could you give a message to everyone?
Today, April 6, we celebrate exactly 240th anniversary. We are truly grateful to all of you for your support. Please stop by our new Shinbashi main store. We look forward to working with you again after the relocation.
Tamakiya’s products are also great for standard ochazuke. They are also perfect when enjoying the end of a night of drinking at home.
Yes, we do. The slightly yuzu-flavored broth has a nice aroma, so I think it can be enjoyed as a refreshing evening meal. I think there are more and more ochazuke products available these days, but I would like you to try Tamakiya’s kaiseki-chazuke.
The filling is firm and luxurious, and I think it would be a delight to serve to guests and others.
Shimbashi Tamakiya is boldly taking on the challenge of creating not only tsukudani, but also products that go well with wine and other Western-style flavors. This spirit of innovation is the legacy of the ninth generation. With the precious things inherited from their parents, Shimbashi Tamakiya will continue to take on new challenges in the future.
*If you would like to see this dialogue on video.here (place close to the speaker or where the speaker is)
