A message from our founder, Takashi Sakamoto

  "Ore no Kabushiki Gaisha" is a company that pursues the happiness of all employees, including our chefs.

When I started this business, I felt the momentum surrounding the Japanese food and beverage industry growing day by day. Japan is home to many world-class chefs, people who could be called world heritage.
However, when I started my research, I was surprised to find that the probability of people who graduated from culinary school still working in the food and beverage industry 10 years later was less than 1%.

It seems that people are quitting in large numbers because they feel that the world of kitchens is not appealing and they cannot dream of a future in the kitchen. On the other hand, customers in the food and beverage industry have noticed that with the rise of fast food, there are very few people who can taste delicious food made by top chefs and feel happy, and they feel that there is a crisis in Japanese food culture.

There is a gap between ideals and reality. I felt that I had to take action for the future of the food and beverage industry.

The business model we have created has two core elements.
A Michelin-star chef will show off his skills and serve food at one-third the price of a high-end restaurant. Even if the food cost rate exceeds 60%, the restaurant will be able to achieve profits by serving more than three customers a day.
When we first started out, this business model began in September 2011 with our first store, "Ore no Italian" (Shinbashi main store), which was just 9m1 in size.

Even though time passes and individual lifestyles change, the "conversations with people" that we value continue to be a part of our daily lives. As people grow closer to each other, conversations naturally arise and they somehow become closer. By providing such a space, employees can take pride in their work and feel happy.
"Ore no Kabushiki Gaisha" will continue to exist for the sake of its employees and the people who gather at its stores.

Takashi Sakamoto, founder of Ore no Co., Ltd.

  　　

Founder's profile

Born in May 1940 in Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture. After working as a car washer, selling audio equipment, used pianos, and cosmetics, he founded Book Off in 1990. In 16 years, the company has expanded to 1,000 stores. In September 2011, he opened "Ore no Italian" in Shinbashi, Tokyo.

Awards

June 1993

New Business Council Excellence Award

June 1998

Toyo Keizai Entrepreneur Award

June 1999

Entrepreneur Club Outstanding Entrepreneur Award

June 1999

Seiwa Juku 7th National Convention, Fighting Spirit Award, December 2000, Nikkei BP Venture of the Year Award

June 2004

Inamori Business Award, 1st place in the 1st group in the non-manufacturing industry category

June 2004

Selected as Japan's representative for E.O.Y. (Entrepreneur of the Year)

June 2005

Participated in WORLD E.O.Y. (Monaco World Championship)

June 2006

Harvard Business School Venture of the Year Award

June 2006

Winner of the 6th Michael Porter Prize

June 2013

Winner of the 2012 Dining Out Award

Books by Takashi Sakamoto

This is a memoir by Sakamoto Takashi, president of a business that is currently experiencing unprecedented prosperity in Tokyo's Ginza and Shinbashi districts. The "My XX" series will have 3 stores with the opening of "Oreno Kappo Ginza Main Branch" on March 15th, and each store has a monthly sales of 14 to 70 million yen per tsubo, exceeding the norm in the restaurant industry. Sakamoto begins by revealing in detail the background to the birth of this business model and the secrets to generating unparalleled sales. Sakamoto is also the founder of "Book Off," and he reminisces about his turbulent life as a businessman, with Book Off having a record of "110 wins and 10 losses," and the teachings of Inamori Kazuo, who showed him the path he should follow as a businessman. As you read on, you will be impressed by Sakamoto's spirit of challenge, which creates the "competitive advantage" mentioned in the title. Source: Shogyokai Co., Ltd., published in the June issue of the monthly "Restaurant Management"

Content introduction

Chapter 1

The birth of "Ore no Italian", an unprecedentedly popular restaurant

Chapter 2

A career of 2 wins and 10 losses

Chapter 3

Why Bookoff became the No. 1 company

Chapter 4

Kazuo Inamori's teachings and what I learned

Chapter 5

"Oreno Italian" and "Oreno French" continue to evolve

Chapter 6

A declaration of determination to "pursue both material and spiritual happiness"

Chapter 7

Become an industry leader and continue to innovate