......... Thinking of "Provence" in the south of France, in the great nature of Minamiaso Village.

It has been 20 years since we opened our cafe/restaurant in our own style.

Bonjour Provence" took a new step forward after the Kumamoto earthquake.

 

Programming in Logic

Minamiaso Village, located at the foot of Mt. Bonjour Provence, a café/restaurant surrounded by forests and seasonal plants and trees, was created by the owner, Keiko Tanaka, who fell in love with this place, which resembles a lavender field in Provence, southern France.
It is a well-known restaurant that has been open for 20 years in Minamiaso Village, which is crowded with fashionable cafes and villas,
In fact, when it first opened, Minamiaso Village was not as bustling as it is today, with only a few stores. Under such circumstances, Mr. Tanaka, who loved the area and moved from Kumamoto City to Minamiaso Village, decided to open a store there. His unique ideas and efforts have greatly contributed to creating a positive image of the area,It would not be an exaggeration to say that he has influenced various fields as a pioneer in the operation of cafes and restaurants by immigrants.

I have always loved gardening, and one day I wanted to live in a house surrounded by a beautiful garden and create a store with the garden as its centerpiece," says Tanaka. When you step into the premises of the store, which he says was completed with the cooperation of his family and friends, you will find a warm and nostalgic space that can only be created by hand and that will gently envelop the hearts of visitors.

The menu is based on the theme of home cooking from Provence, using locally grown ingredients. The restaurant offers a reasonable lunch menu, a full course menu, and is also available for private parties. The restaurant uses enzymes made by Mr. Tanaka himself for seasonings to ensure that the food is healthy for the body.

And now, 2016The Kumamoto earthquake in 2011 triggered him to reevaluate his business form and at the same time, to rethink what he really wanted to do and what he wanted to communicate. Among the things he worked on was "AHIS," which analyzes the body and mind through the sense of smell.Unlike general aromatherapy, it is possible to diagnose your current state based on your scent preferences.After the "IM Check", you will make your own "Scented Herbarium". It is a word that may not be familiar to many, but by simply arranging the scents in order of preference, you can find out what you need right now in terms of food, rhythm and balance in your life, and enjoy your original aroma craft together with a herbarium made of seasonal flowers. Ms. Tanaka's eyes were full of energy as she explained the benefits of fragrance and the importance of nasal breathing, and she expressed her desire to continue to thoroughly pursue what she loves.

In this report, along with the store and menu, we also report on Mr. Tanaka's new initiative for the Kumamoto earthquake, the "Scented Herbarium Making Experience," as well as an interview,We asked Mr. Tanaka about his thoughts on his dream and how he achieved it, as well as the past 20 years since he opened his store and his vision for the future, so please take your time to read this interview to the end.

Model Report: Momoko Oshima
Reporting and editing by Nozomi Nakamoto]
Filming and production: VOKE Co.

 

Facilities1 Scenery of the garden

Before moving to Minamiaso, while struggling to raise children and work in Kumamoto City, "I kept dreaming of one day devoting myself to gardening as much as I wanted, and I always told my family and acquaintances about my dream in words," says owner Tanaka. His daughter gave him a gift when she was in high school.Provence, Southern FranceHe was fascinated by the photo books of the "Mere Old Man" and his love for gardening grew stronger day by day.

I quit my job at that time and was looking for land to take a step toward my dream when I realized that I wanted to realize my dream in the 20th century.ProvenceHe was very excited when he came across Minamiaso Village, which was very similar to the area he had visited in the past. However, more than 20 years ago, Minamiaso Village was not dotted with fashionable cafes, restaurants, and tourist facilities as it is today, but was just a place of cluttered trees and grass, and her husband was concerned that a restaurant would not do well here.

It was his son, who was moved by Mr. Tanaka's straightforward pursuit of realizing his dream, who pushed him to purchase this spacious land of 400 tsubos (about 1,000 square meters).

With the help of his son, his dream took a further step forward. Mr. Tanaka himself drew detailed planting plans for the plants and flowers to be planted in the large garden, and based on his self-taught designs for the café and home building, he asked an architect to design them.

When it first opened 20 years ago, there were more than 100 varieties of roses alone. The number of flower varieties has increased over the years to such an extent that even Mr. Tanaka himself is unable to keep track of them, but the mountain scenery of Minami Aso, combined with the different flavors of spring, summer, fall, and winter, makes them all the more beautiful.

 

Facility 2: Interior view of the café

The interior of the café exudes a nostalgic atmosphere, as if it were a private home tucked away in the suburbs of France. The white-based interior matches the handmade furniture and antique furnishings, and dried floral wreaths of flowers and plants from the garden are displayed here and there.

The painting of the walls, the design of the window frames, and the shape of the roof are all meticulously designed, and the attention to detail can be seen in every part of the store.

The "Mosquito Coil Container" is a work by the daughter-in-law, a pottery artist. When the roof is lifted, there is a space for mosquito coils.

 

Facilities 3: Cuisine inspired by the tables of Provence

Dove Provencal Petit Course 2,900 yen

The most popular course is a traditional meat dish from the Provence region of southern France. Salads, soups, and other dishes vary according to availability.

The dishes served are based on the concept of "Provencal home cooking" so that the guests can feel the atmosphere of Provence even more along with the garden. Ingredients are mainly from Kumamoto Prefecture and Minami Aso, and seasonings and drinks are handmade and healthful.

This Provencal dish is made by preparing the meat of Kumamoto Prefecture's famous "red beef" in red wine and then simmering it until tender and tender. It can be carved simply by gently inserting a fork.

▲Cold broth of grilled eggplant. The eggplant has no eggy taste at all and has a slight, gentle sweetness. Topped with a white egg, the soup matched the chunky texture.

▲An appetizer and salad plate. A generous portion of green salad, mainly made with locally grown vegetables. The dressing is made with handmade apple cider vinegar and enzyme syrup for a refreshing taste.

▲Herb tea made from carefully selected ingredients. About four kinds of herb tea blended according to the efficacy and taste of herbs have been prepared, and you can choose according to your taste and mood. The rich aroma of herbs will relax and soothe your mind.

▲Bankan rare cheesecake and raspberry-filled gateau chocolat. The café's desserts are also pastry chefs, and are served in the neighborhood with "Nohohon Cafe Bois JoliThe daughter (Ms. Takakura) who runs the restaurant has been in charge of the restaurant since its opening. This fruity rare cheese makes the most of the tartness and pulpy texture of the late citrus fruit.

Other Menu Introduction

Hot sandwich basket 1,500 yen
■Red Beef Lunch (soup, salad, bread, organic coffee or tea or herb tea set) 2,100 yen
■Mediterranean Lunch (soup, salad, bread, organic coffee or tea or herbal tea set) 1,900 yen
■Pasta a la Provencal (basil and tomato pasta) (soup, salad, bread, organic coffee or tea or herb tea set) 1,600 yen

Mariniere of mussels petit course 2,700 yen

■Pasta a la Provencal Petit Course 2,400 yen

3,800 yen course

4,800 yen course

 

Facilities 4 Private Rooms "Separate

This is the private room of the owner and his wife, named "Easy Living: Maman's Holiday. The room is a handmade room with driftwood and antique interior decorations, which the owner says, "I filled it with all my hobbies.

This house is a "strawbale house," an architectural style in which the walls are made of compressed straw and coated with clay, and the exterior is made of French plaster commonly used in the Provence region and applied by hand to depict the changing seasons. The daughter's husband, who operates Bois Joli nearby, led the work to achieve the desired look, but the French plaster was difficult to match with the humid Minami-Aso climate, and they had great difficulty creating just the right conditions. The contrast between the soft hues and the bright green seems to create a Provencal atmosphere.

The outside wall away from the house, with its unique world view, is so cute that it looks like it came out of a fairy tale storybook.

Japanese plaster was used for the interior, but in order to express roundness, it was applied with bare hands, without using tools or instruments. The daughter-in-law, who worked looking up at the ceiling the entire time, spilled out after completing this work, "It was so hard work that I couldn't turn my head for a while. Because they have realized the form they had envisioned for so many years, we can see how they are spending their time carefully and lovingly in this place.

 

Scented Herbarium Experience "Tilleul

As mentioned at the beginning of this article, the Kumamoto earthquake in 2016 made us rethink what we wanted to do and how we would operate our stores in the future, so we obtained a certification as an olfactory response analyst, which we had wanted to try for some time, launched "Tilleul," and also started workshops and hands-on programs based on the body-friendly enzyme syrups we have been making. Tilleul" and started workshops and hands-on programs centered on the healthful enzyme syrups that she has been making for some time. For this interview, we had the opportunity to experience a program based on olfactory response analysis, which we had never experienced before, and to make a "scented herbarium.
(Experience report by Momoko Oshima)

The first step is to diagnose the fragrance: list the eight essential oils from A to H in order of intuitive order of favorite fragrance. At this point, if the same fragrance is sniffed many times, its influence may change the starting state or balance, so we try to limit the number of times and make a judgment after two or three sniffs. If these essential oils had colors or shapes attached to them, I would likely be influenced by images and preconceptions in making my choice, but since they are in bottles that are not influenced by their appearance, I felt that I could only choose fragrances based on my intuition and that I could not lie about my preferences.

When it came time to compare them, there were some scents that we clearly liked or disliked, and others that were difficult to put in order. I was a little worried, but I let my senses take over and put them in order.

The two scents in each of the eight bottles have the same function, and they decide that the scent they like is what they want = what they lack, and the scent they don't like is what they don't need.

We "chart the body" by arranging these fragrance preferences in order, and the results of the body's response to these preferences are used to decipher what the body needs in the morning, afternoon, evening, and late at night. As a result of this diagnosis, I received the analysis that I am currently unbalanced at "night" and that I should relax and rest my body with light stretching after evening. It was an eye-opening experience for me to know not only how to take care of my body and mind, but also the appropriate time of day to do so.

We were also told what foods, nutrients, and aromas we need to eat. I am glad that I can put this information into practice as soon as possible the next day, since I can get such a specific diagnosis, including the time of day.

Finally, the participants will make a "herbarium perfume" using their favorite essential oil. Herbarium" is a glass jar filled with plants and other items for ornamental purposes, and in recent years it has become a very popular interior decoration item.

We were allowed to choose our favorite shape and color from a large number of jars to keep flowers and plants separated by type. To be honest, there were so many to choose from that I was at a loss. Then Mr. Tanaka recommended white and blue flowers perfect for summer. Flowers that were too large would take up too much space, so we divided the petals into smaller pieces. To find the right balance, I also chose ones with round berries. The stylishness was increased at once.

It is tempting to put in a lot of flowers, but the key is not to overfill.

Based on a base of Furnace Oil, which is not perishable and has no scent, I used 2 drops of Lemongrass and 3 drops of Lemon Eucalyptus. The result is a herbarium with a clean, soothing scent! The finished product looks cool and makes you want to keep looking at it.

Likes and dislikes of fragrances are physiological and intuitive among the five senses. That is why this diagnosis shows what you want from your current instincts and what you are lacking as the result of your analysis. Basically, the results change on a daily basis, so it is originally advisable to take the test regularly to check how your physical and mental condition changes.

I enjoy the scent and appearance of the completed "Scented Herbarium" by putting it on in the morning, after taking a bath, or even later in the evening when I want to refresh myself. Having essential oils of my favorite fragrance around me naturally improves my mood. Each time I put it on, I breathe slowly and deeply, making it perfect for when I am tired and need to take a breath.

 

Past Experience Works

(Image courtesy of Keiko Tanaka, AHIS certified olfactory response analyst and Bonjour Provence representative)

Scented Herbarium Experience Details

Experience fee: 2,500 yen (minimum of 2 people)
Reservations required
Please consult with us regarding dates and times of operation.
Conducted on the regular closing days of the café (Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday)

 

Interview with Keiko Tanaka, Representative

Dreams" are the great support and sustenance of our lives, and we give them shape.

Even now that I have realized my dream, I am still working toward what I would like to "try" in the future.

We want to keep going straight.

Keiko Tanaka (right), representative of Bonjour Provence

Q: How did you open the restaurant?

I love plants, and my biggest dream was to create an ideal large garden in a place with abundant nature. However, I realized that it would be difficult to run a business just by creating a garden, so I created a café/restaurant that matches the garden so that people can enjoy both eating and viewing the garden.

Q: What were you doing before the opening?

There was a time when I was a staff member at a jewelry store, and there was a time when I devoted myself to being a housewife after I set up a house in Kumamoto City and had a child. There were times when I was struggling to make ends meet, raise my child, and pay medical bills while working as a salesperson. What supported me in those days was my dream of having an ideal garden. I was able to endure anything, even saving money and fatigue, for the sake of my dream. And my dream grew and grew."

Q: When did you first become interested in owning a garden?

When I was a child, I found a picture of beautiful scenery from abroad in a clothing store my parents owned. At that time, it was not easy to travel abroad, so I would imagine beautiful cityscapes and landscapes and think of overseas. I think it was already my dream to live in a house with a garden like this one."

Q: Did you have a connection to the south of France and Provence?

No, actually not at all. But while I was learning how to grow herbs and plants for my garden, one day my daughter gave me a photo book of Provence. It showed me exactly the kind of landscape I wanted to have. I had looked around many places in search of a place to realize my dream, but the view from here was exactly the same as the one on that page of the photo book my daughter had given me, so at that moment, I knew this was the place! I was so excited that I decided on this place intuitively. The book is still very dear to me and my favorite. It is interesting to note that at the same time I was looking around for a place to live, the Provence region became the talk of the world due to the book "12 Months in Provence, Southern France" and Minamiaso Village was chosen as the "Provence of Japan! I remember that I was reaffirming my belief that this was the place to be!

Q: How did your family react to your decision to move from Kumamoto City to Minamiaso Village?

My family cooperated fully with me because I had been talking about my dream for so long. My eldest son bought the land and my second son planted the symbolic tree in the garden. My husband also helped with the restaurant after he retired from work, despite having many concerns and worries, my daughter, who trained as a pastry chef, was in charge of desserts, and my daughter-in-law even created my own design of the ideal shape when we built the store and house. In my case, if I had spoken up and earnestly communicated my dreams, eventually people around me would have helped me before I knew it, and I am very grateful to my family and friends for their support in this regard."

Tanaka himself carefully drew up each of the blueprints, including how large the garden would be, what flowers and plants would be arranged, the size of the building, the layout of the rooms, and the interior design, all on a large site of 400 square meters.

Q: How has your store been affected after the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake?

I think it was all over Kumamoto Prefecture, but Minamiaso Village was also severely damaged due to the poor road conditions. It was so hectic that there was no time to take a breath, and then suddenly there were no people to be seen. But that didn't mean I could stand still, so I took this opportunity to think carefully about what I want to do now and what I want to do in the future. I took this opportunity to think carefully about what I want to do now and what I want to do in the future. I also decided that I wanted to do something more useful for people, and so I started the "Scented Herbarium Experience" after obtaining the certification as an olfactory response analyst, which I had wanted to challenge myself with. I also planned a program to experience "enzymes," which are full of natural power that is good for the body. We are planning to change the form of our operation so that coming to this place will help heal both body and soul."

Q: Mr. Tanaka, thank you for your time.

 

Epilogue: After the interview

Mr. Tanaka was 51 years old when he realized his dream and started the restaurant in 1999. Twenty years later, he is now over 70 years old, but I was impressed by the fact that he is still full of "things I want to try" and spares no effort to give shape to them, enjoying his daily life. She is always smiling and talking about her dreams, and her eyes seem to be shining brightly as she looks toward the future. It was an inspiring experience for me to learn that having a dream is the support of life, and that dreams can be realized through hard work.

 

Access

Bonjour Provence

Address: 5262-63, Minamiaso Kawagin, Aso-gun, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan
Phone: 0967-67-3107
Hours of operation: 12:00 - 16:00
Closed: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
*Experience and workshops can be accepted on regular holidays.
*Other irregular holidays due to farm work and maintenance. Please inquire in advance.

MAP

Japan, 5262-63 Kawai, Minamiaso-mura, Aso-gun, Kumamoto, 869-1411, Japan

Interview and editorial staff

Model Report: Momoko Oshima
Reporting and Editing: Nozomi Nakamoto
Photography and production: VOKE Ltd.