BTBF Reflections: LA's Oldest Japanese restaurant

    The theme of this munchies episode was "keeping the legacy alive" and "word or mouth". It was focused on LA's oldest Japanese restaurant, Otomisan, and it's owner, Yayoi Watanabe. This video felt warm because of Watanabe and the significance of her restaurant, her beliefs, and her words of wisdom. The heart of the video was her explanation of how she runs the business: "it's important for the food to taste good in this business. But equally important is taking care of customers. It's a business that required everything to be balanced." 

    Legacy is created and maintained through authenticity and a connection with people. Watanabe made this argument clear to see and easy to believe. Her restaurant is a testament to family run restaurants and the care they put into their food and their customers. She puts thought into everything from how customers are welcomed (Otafuku-san and Maneki Neko) to displaying her family's art and keeping heartful gifts from customers. Her passion displayed in how she takes pride in participating in all parts of her restaurant (the cooking, customer service, cashier, etc). This care, thoughtfulness, passion, and whatever other words are fitting is the heart of her legacy. Customers remember what the food tastes like, but they also remember the lady that put her soul into the food. Moreover, this is why Otomisan runs on "word of mouth". She doesn't have to promote because her legacy is so authentic that it moves people to promote for her. She is able to connect to her visitors and make them feel like a part of her journey, and this impact travels from person to person. Generations of family members keeping coming back and friends invite friends. 

    The thing about one persons' legacy is that it can easily become part of another person's legacy. Personally, there are stores and restaurants I always go to because they are part of my family's legacy, so I guess I can easily imagine the gift Watanabe has granted her community. 

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