Kamakura Ham Tomioka Shokai planned to open its new brand, KAMAHAM PLUS+, on Komachi-dori Street, a five-minute walk from the East Exit of Kamakura Station on the JR Yokosuka Line. Komachi-dori Street is bustling with tourists throughout the year.
The history of Kamakura Ham Tomioka Shokai began in 1900, and its roots go back to the arrival of Perry. Born in Kamakura, ham is served in first-class hotels and has been loved by locals for many years. It has a history of nurturing ham culture with care.
Actually, I am one of those who have been familiar with products of Kamakura Ham Tomioka Shokai since I was young. I still vividly remember the taste of bacon and tamagoyaki made by Kamakura Ham Tomioka Shokai that my mother made. It is a great honor to work with Kamakura Ham Tomioka Shokai, which is filled with such precious memories.
This time, as a company with roots in Kamakura, we thought deeply about how we could express “Kamakura-ness.” However, rather than simply imitating the superficial “Kamakura-ness,” we pursued a design that reflected the intrinsic charm of the area. For this reason, we use solid cypress imported from Kumano in Mie to create a space that takes advantage of the unpainted texture. By choosing natural wood that breathes, rather than wood hardened with resin for modern maintenance, the texture and fragrance that deepens over time give the space a new texture.
The theme this time is “passing on traditions.” The exterior is made of cypress wood and is made entirely of cypress based on the wooden barrels used to make Kamakura ham, all carefully crafted by artisans. In addition, by using traditional techniques that do not use nails in the image of temples and shrines in Kamakura, it expresses the unique warmth and texture that comes from handwork.
In addition, a cypress wooden shaft designed so that the outside and the inside are naturally connected invites customers to enter the store. The wooden scrolls use the fine craftsmanship seen in temple architecture in Kamakura to create harmony with the streets of Kamakura. We have a wide variety of products in our business, but we install movable shelves on wooden shafts so that we can freely change the product display according to the season.
The important thing is not to catch the eye with flashiness, but to leave a quiet and elegant afterglow in the space. Once you step out of the hustle and bustle of Komachi-dori, you will be enveloped in a different world, and we aim to create a comfortable space to release tension.
We hope that it will be a place where people can meet “the best ham.”
