A Part of Everyday Life, a Place to Pause
Mame to Hibi

After helping launch and run Earthen Place, a much-loved café in the leafy Zushi–Hayama area, Takamura embarked on a new venture in Higashi-Zushi: Mame to Hibi, a specialty shop offering coffee beans roasted in-house.

We spoke with Takamura about what inspired the new shop, why Higashi-Zushi felt like the right location, and the heartfelt wish to offer a little comfort to local mothers navigating busy everyday lives.

What inspired you to open Mame to Hibi?

More than ten years had passed since Earthen Place opened, and the business had really found its footing. A new manager had also grown into the role. Around the same time, we were going through a leadership transition, so it felt like a natural moment to think, “Next, I’d like to build a shop from scratch around something that matters personally to me.” That was where it all began.

What made you choose Higashi-Zushi as the location?

There are plenty of people here doing their everyday shopping, so it was somewhere the shop could naturally become part of local routines. I was drawn to the sense of real, everyday life here, rather than the lively, visitor-oriented atmosphere around Zushi Station.

I wanted to create a shop that would support mothers busy with housework and raising children, and this location simply felt right. I also had the impression that thoughtful, independently minded shops were putting down roots and doing well in Higashi-Zushi. That made me feel there was real potential here.

What was your honest first impression when you saw the property?

Honestly, I did wonder, “This is such an everyday residential area—can a shop like ours really work here?”
The landlord was offering us a brand-new space in a rebuilt building, with the interior left unfinished. Since we would be creating everything from scratch, I was excited—and a little nervous—to see how it would turn out.

What meaning is behind the name Mame to Hibi?

At first, we were deciding whether to open a second Earthen Place or create a new shop with a different concept. Earthen Place welcomes a lot of customers with dogs, but this property couldn’t accommodate pets, so we decided to pursue the second idea.

“Mame” means “beans,” reflecting our wish to bring people delicious coffee beans roasted in-house. “Hibi” means “everyday life,” expressing our hope that the shop would become part of people’s daily routines. We brought those two ideas together in the name.

As a funny aside, we had also considered calling it “Earthen Place Mame to Hibi.” But when we set up Instagram, we accidentally started posting simply as “Mame to Hibi.” [Laughs.] The account quickly gained followers, and we thought, “Well, Mame to Hibi it is!”

What made you choose kusukusu to design the shop?

My family and I divided up the task of contacting several design firms, and kusukusu was by far the quickest to respond. Their replies were practically instant—it really surprised me! [Laughs.] Of course, their previous work was beautiful, but the biggest deciding factor was how easy and smooth the communication felt.

Above all, they were a tremendous help with branding. When you’re running a shop, it’s easy to keep adding things, but they often encouraged us to pare things back. Thanks to that advice, we created room to breathe—not just in the space itself, but in the menu and the concept as well. It helped the shop come together beautifully.

How did you feel when you first saw the interior renderings and layout?

They were wonderful at picking up on the essence of our concept. They noticed a brass ring I was wearing and drew inspiration from its color and the patina it develops over time.
The design wasn’t overly decorative. It felt like something that would settle naturally into everyday life while still offering a small sense of occasion. I felt they had brought to life exactly the kind of space we wanted—one that belongs in people’s “hibi.”

What role would you like the shop to play in the community?

During this opening stage, I’ll be here in person, putting everything into running the shop during the day and roasting at night. In time, I’d like to explore online sales and perhaps additional locations, but first I want to put down strong roots here in Higashi-Zushi.

Finally, do you have a message for your customers and neighbors?

I feel it in my own life, too: raising children, working, and keeping up with housework every day takes so much effort.

That’s why I want this shop to be a little resting place for local mothers and everyone in the neighborhood who quietly gives so much each day—a place where they can relax their shoulders and take a breath.

Whether you’re on your way home from shopping or simply have a spare moment in your day, I’d be delighted if you dropped in for some good coffee and freshly roasted beans.

Thank you, Ryoma Takamura, for sharing your story!
We’re proud to have played a part in bringing your shop to life.