December 21st marks our 3rd anniversary since opening the shop.
It was about five years ago, I think.
"Let's do a 2-egg plate."
"Let's do it."
It all began with that truly trivial conversation.
The more we refined our vision for the shop, the more convinced I became that we could brighten up the mornings in this neighborhood. How exciting would it be if the morning scene I saw in America could take root here, even just a little? Plus, doing it under the same roof as a bike shop would create a landscape you wouldn't see anywhere else. Of course, since this isn't a style of shop that everyone in Japan is familiar with, there was an "invisible anxiety" about how it would turn out. To dispel that and to see the view we wanted to see, all we could do was take action.
Then the shop started, and three years have passed in a flash. We’ve been able to make it this far thanks to so many people.
We just acted recklessly. I challenged myself with many things without setting limits. I tried to live as if I were packing ten years’ worth of experiences into these three years. Haha. Believing that even from this tiny shop of less than 10 tsubo (approx. 33 sqm), we could put many things out into society. It’s a very small thing, but we truly believe it is what we "need to do."
The neighborhood man who wouldn't come in at first because he didn't know what kind of shop it was finally visited us in our third year.
The owner of the sushi restaurant across the street comes in for coffee on his way back from the market.
I’ve also had many opportunities to work seriously with people I’ve admired for a long time and friends. They gave us so many ideas and strength when we were still capable of nothing.
People from many countries—America, Germany, Sweden, Taiwan, France, Canada, etc.—come here aiming for this place.
Foreigners living in Nagoya also come for breakfast on the weekends. The sight of only English being spoken in the shop is exactly the scene I saw in America.
One foreign customer who came every week even came almost every day right before they were scheduled to return to America for work, and shed tears when we said goodbye.
There are also many families who bring their small children. Seeing the children grow day by day, I’ve sometimes thought about how good it would be if our own growth continued at the same pace. Haha.
Interactions with the many shop owners in Chiyoda have also increased over time. Everyone is wonderful, and the strong desire of those who want to enliven the Chiyoda neighborhood has made me love this town even more.
Cyclists from all over the country have ridden hundreds of kilometers with the goal of having breakfast here. Seeing their blissful faces as they eat our high-calorie 3-egg plate after reaching the finish line made me feel energized, too.
We’ve also participated in many outdoor events. The experience of setting up shop at a large event like the Mori, Michi, Ichiba market was a great learning experience.
We have also planned many events of our own, both big and small. A collaborative pop-up with "KAKUOZAN LARDER" at the TV Tower. Planning the summer camping ride event "RIDEALIVE." Providing food and drink support for "RIDIN BIRDS" at the famous REN VILLAGE in Izu, and so on.
And when Chris King hosted the "Grinduro" event in Japan, I had an invaluable experience unlike any other. We planned it for a year, went to Portland to experience the original event, held meetings almost every week via Skype, and had the cooperation of so many people for just that single day. It was an unparalleled sense of achievement in my life.
We were featured in many magazines: PAPER SKY, MARK, GINZA, BICYCLE PLUS, HUNT, N BOOK, etc. These were all magazines I liked and read. And I even cheekily appeared on TV. Haha. Thanks to the introductions in various media, we had opportunities to be known by a variety of customers, for which I am grateful.
Several of the famous people I admire have also come to visit.
If I were to list every episode, there would truly be no end to the memories. Many customers come to mind as I write this, but they are too numerous to mention. Haha. Thanks to the many people who truly color my days, I am able to enjoy opening this place from the morning every single day.
As for myself, it has already been 13 years since I came to Nagoya from Aomori. I am living days every day that I could never have imagined back then. I’m glad I didn’t go home when I hit a wall in Nagoya in my second year. Haha.
My hope is to make this Chiyoda neighborhood a lively place from the morning with "breakfast" as the theme. The ideal scene is always in my head, and there have been many days when we came close to that vision. There have been many unexpected wonderful encounters and daily occurrences. When I see a scene that exceeds my imagination, I can truly and sincerely say that I am so glad I do this job.
There are still many things I don't know after just three years, but the first three years were a supremely fun time thanks to so many people. I want to grow together with all of you, becoming a "community" where many people's ways of life are reflected in the time that continues for the next 10, 20 years.
The "three years" was my first goal. Looking back, the things I want to do are only increasing, and it is truly just a waypoint. However, I thought it was important to look back on the path taken so far to aim for the next goal, so I took this opportunity to express my gratitude.
And a big thank you to Mattsun and Miyuki-chan, the EARLY BIRDS staff who work so hard. I’m also grateful to the over 20 friends connected through bicycles—CIRCLES, SIMWORKS, WELLDONE, and the Chariken crew—who have fought alongside us under the same roof every day. I couldn't have made it this far without everyone. Thank you. Let's keep growing together.
Thank you so much. Please continue to support EARLY BIRDS BREAKFAST. We’re just getting started.
EARLY BIRDS BREAKFAST
Keita Ohira
P.S. We will soon be able to announce our new shop currently in progress, "PINE FIELDS MARKET" (a bake shop acting as EARLY BIRDS' second location), and a new bike shop, "CULTURE CLUB" (a second shop for CIRCLES). We are pursuing some interesting new endeavors there in a new location. Keep an eye out for them.