This video features Part 2 of our introduction to Mr. Tanaka Kumagawa from “Shirasu Don Don,” beginning with detailed presentations of his three signature products: fresh shirasu directly shipped from Toyosu Market, mentaiko (spicy cod roe), and pickled vegetables. Mr. Tanaka shares his love for the shopping street, expressing his fascination with the charming Toden Arakawa streetcar line and appreciating the excellent location of being at both the starting and terminal stations. Looking toward the future, he expresses his sense of mission to cherish his role as a “relay point” connecting markets to households and to continue protecting Japanese food culture. He also reveals concrete plans to open a new store called “Grilled Fish Don Don,” aiming to create fish fast food. The content impressively showcases Mr. Tanaka’s passion for passing down Japanese fish culture to the next generation while emphasizing the importance of strengthening bones and chewing properly, along with his fulfillment in “making his passion his profession” within the shopping street.
Host Ishizaki 0:05 There are various fish and other items that really catch my attention. Could you tell us about Shirasu Don Don’s top 3 recommended products?
Kumagawa-san 0:09 First, of course, since we’re a shirasu shop, it’s shirasu. Shirasu is auctioned daily at Toyosu Market every single day. We get a portion of what’s auctioned there. So it’s incredibly fresh.
Host Ishizaki 0:29 It’s really delicious, isn’t it? I also had it as sashimi…
Kumagawa-san 0:31 Every day is different. Since we’re getting a small portion of what’s caught each day, it’s different every day. Even if someone says “I want the same as what I bought before,” that’s probably not possible. We keep the price the same, but the product varies. Well, it’s good and bad – but on the positive side, you get to try different varieties. So shirasu is our first item. Second item: mentaiko (spicy cod roe). This mentaiko – these are broken pieces, broken powder, but people at Toyosu say this is delicious. This is definitely our top recommendation, so we use this spicy cod roe.
And then there’s dried fish. I really think any dried fish you try will be good. Please, really do try them.
Host Takasugi & Ishizaki 1:29 Your prices are quite reasonable. They’re very affordable.
Kumagawa-san 1:33 I set prices at what I think is fair, so I never raise them unnecessarily. We have many repeat customers.
Host Ishizaki 1:47 What are your expectations for Joyful Minowa, or what do you find attractive about Joyful?
Kumagawa-san 1:53 I think it’s really great. The toden (streetcar), right? I saw the toden recently, and there’s nothing as cute as that! It’s incredibly cute! It moves around like that. And there are people who use it for their daily commute – it’s not a toy! It’s not an amusement park ride. I was surprised. I thought it might be an amusement park ride. I thought “What is this? This is great!” and when I have time, I’d like to ride it for fun. Moreover, this is both the starting and terminal station for the toden, isn’t it? And there’s a shopping street here, plus it’s close to Minowa Station – it’s right there. The location is really excellent.
Host Ishizaki 2:41 And what direction would you like Shirasu Don Don to go in the future?
Kumagawa-san 2:44 Yes. The meaning of this Shirasu Don Don is essentially to be a relay point providing fresh products from market to home – that’s basically what it is. So I want to continue as a relay point delivering fresh products to dining tables. Moreover, seafood might become increasingly scarce in the future. People might ask why we’re catching such small fish. But this is Japanese food culture, and we will preserve this. Also, I recently started a new shop nearby. Grilled fish. It’s called “Grilled Fish Don Don” – it’s part of the Don Don Don Don series, like “let’s grill it,” “grilled it,” “we grilled it.” What we’re aiming for is grilled fish fast food. Ideally, customers would take it while it’s still warm, but right now it’s become a bento shop. Of course, we pack bento boxes, but we don’t just sell products from here – we think about delicious ways to eat them. I want to do something like that. No matter what, I process things and try them myself, and if I think “this is delicious,” I tell customers “it’s delicious if you eat it this way.”
Host 4:06 I feel the love. The love of a fish shop owner.
Kumagawa-san 4:09 Also, if you put roasted powder on a bento and just close the lid, it steams. With little innovations like that, we can make new proposals. Yes, exactly. That’s what I want to think about and provide over there.
Kumagawa-san 4:25 Eventually, I want to create single dishes that people can enjoy right there – there are two seats available.
Host Ishizaki 4:34 You really have a complete story here. So it works perfectly – you buy fresh fish here and get it grilled over there.
Kumagawa-san 4:43 The fundamental value of this shop is that I want to preserve Japanese cuisine – Japanese food. I want people to eat this fish culture and continue it. It strengthens bones and teeth, and chewing is the best thing, isn’t it? Chewing dried sardines right away – I think that’s absolutely good.
Host Ishizaki 5:10 Finally, could Vice Chairman Takasugi share his thoughts after completing this third episode?
Host Takasugi 5:14 I think shops are made by people. And when we ask who creates these people-made shops, it’s the shop owners and staff. I really felt that was well-planned, shall I say. The flow of customers coming with thoughtfulness really connects to those repeat customers. It’s completely customer-focused, and you have a mission – you’re an information officer protecting Japanese food culture.
Host Ishizaki 5:58 Let me write that big – “Information Officer” or something! That’s amazing.
Host Ishizaki 6:06 But thank you so much for today. It was really, really fun. We heard various stories and thoughts from security guard work to everything else – you really can’t understand without having conversations like this.
Kumagawa-san 6:24 That’s right. It’s ultimately the culmination. For me, I could die here and be satisfied.
Host Takasugi 6:29 Do you understand what I mean?
Kumagawa-san 6:24 Well, I won’t actually die, but…
Host Takasugi 6:29 Like calcium and stuff – “I could die here satisfied” – that means you’re that fulfilled, right?
Host 6:38 That’s wonderful. Every day, every day – that feeling exists, right? Every day can’t be helped.
Kumagawa-san 6:44 Even when customers come, it’s great, but even when they don’t come, it’s fun. Why? Because I fundamentally love fishing.
Host Ishizaki 6:55 That’s why making your passion your profession is really powerful. Not just powerful – it’s truly amazing. It’s admirable. Today’s third episode is finished, but from now on, don don don don don don don don! Don don development! Don don customers coming to Don Don-san and don don happiness!
Host 7:15 Yes, well then, next will be the fourth episode. Thank you everyone.
Host 7:23 That was Don Don-san. Thank you.
Kumagawa-san 7:26 Thank you very much.
Please note that this transcript was generated by AI and may contain some unnatural expressions or errors. We appreciate your understanding.