On March 20th, G-CHA & Ba-CHA, a take-out only tea shop employing staff with an average age of 73, opened near the intersection at the bottom of Miyamasuzaka Hill. It is attracting attention as an attempt to promote new ways of working for the elderly, coming from Shibuya, a town known for its youth culture.

宮益坂下から１ブロック目の角を左折すると、レンガ調のかわいらいい建物がみえてくる。ボーリング場「シブヤボール」の右手だ

The new store will be located on the first floor of the building where "Center Beef Shibuya Miyamasuzaka Store" used to operate. The location is included in the large-scale redevelopment area of the "Miyamasuzaka district," and the store will operate as a "limited-time store" utilizing the few years until construction begins. Amidst the urban renewal, a new experimental initiative has begun.

The cafe is a joint project between ENTAKU produce, which has planned numerous experiential stores that have become popular on social media, such as "A Cafe Run by a Friend" and "ME ME COFFEE," and Tokyu Corporation. The customer service staff are not celebrities, but ordinary elderly people who responded to job postings to work at the cafe, with the oldest being 80 years old. The concept is to deliver "energy" along with serving tea.

入口を入ると、左側に「健康」と書かれた溜まりスペース。右側に商品の注文スペースがある

店では「爺茶（ジンジャーほうじ茶）」や「婆茶（ジャスミン緑茶）」などユニークなネーミングのドリンクのほか、抹茶ラテなど計7種類を提供する。

Junki Yoshida of ENTAKU, who is in charge of the store, said, "We focused on making sure that it wasn't just a novelty item, but a truly delicious tea. We've created a flavor that can be enjoyed by people of all ages." He added that they sourced tea leaves and matcha from TeaRoom, which has its own farm and factory in Shizuoka Prefecture, and that they were particular about quality.

注文から受け取りまで、ほほ笑ましいひととき

箱からオーダーシートを一つ取り、希望のメニューなどを記載する。ペンは、シルバーでも見やすい視認性の高いピンク色の蛍光を採用しているという

来店客は入店後、オーダーシートにドリンクの種類、温度、トッピング、カップの色、グッズ購入の有無などを記入し、レジで注文する。レジにはおじいちゃん、またはおばあちゃんのスタッフが1人座っており、そこで最初のコミュニケーションが始まる。この日は、サングラスをかけた73歳の京子さんが担当し、注文内容の確認と会計を行った。支払いは前払いで、キャッシュレス決済のみ。

受付担当は73歳の京子さん

One of the heartwarming scenes at the shop is when Kyoko says, "The order text is too small," and uses a giant magnifying glass to check the order details.

左＝ドリンクのほか、Tシャツ、キャップなどオリジナル商品も充実。右＝商品提供を待つスペース

After ordering, you wait in front of the curtain until it's your turn to be served. When your number is called, you finally enter the area behind the curtain.

「D&G」ではなく「g&b」のロゴが入ったアウターに身を包むおじいちゃん、おばあちゃん。一人ひとりの個性に合わせたスタイリングも印象的だ

のれんをくぐると、障子に囲まれた和テイストのスペースが広がっている。大きなカウンターの中には、おじいちゃん、おばあちゃんスタッフ２人が笑顔と決めポーズで出迎えてくれる。

注文したのは、「健康」の文字が入ったピンクのカップで提供される「爺茶（ジンジャーほうじ茶）」（780円）と、「茶」の文字入りの緑のカップに入った「チョコレート抹茶ラテ」（960円）

来店客の名前を一人ひとり手書きしたラベルをカップに貼り、商品を手渡しながら、世間話や趣味の話など自然な会話が生まれる。おじいちゃん、おばあちゃんとのコミュニケーションを重視した接客が特徴だ。店内は来店客の笑い声が絶えず、通常のカフェにはない、アットホームな雰囲気が漂う。

Putting seniors at the forefront in a town known for its youth culture.

This project originated when Tokyu Corporation requested that a store that would "revitalize Shibuya" be created as a way to utilize vacant real estate in the redevelopment area.

Yoshida recalls, "Shibuya has a strong image as a town for young people. I thought it would be interesting to have a shop there where senior citizens could work in a cool way. We had originally wanted to create opportunities for senior citizens to be active within the company, so we combined those two ideas."

The staff currently consists of about 16 people, ranging in age from their mid-60s to their 80s, with about six people working in shifts each day. Senior staff members handle customer service at the front of the shop, while younger staff members provide support with tasks such as preparing drinks.

渋谷という立地ついて、吉田さんは「若い世代とシニア世代が自然に交わる場をつくりたかった。実際にスマートフォンの操作を教え合ったり、昔の話をしたりと、コミュニケーションが生まれている」と手応えを語る。

"Take a break when you need to" - A work style that doesn't require overexertion.

The store's distinguishing feature is its creation of an environment where senior citizens can work without undue strain. It operates under three rules: "Take a break when you want to," "Say it immediately if you're tired," and "Work because you enjoy it," introducing a flexible work style that breaks away from traditional work ethics. Measures are taken to reduce physical strain, such as having staff primarily serve customers while seated and using an order sheet system where customers fill out their own orders.

シルバーが働きやすい環境を提供する「 3つのルール」

"If I'm not feeling well, I don't push myself. I'm flexible in my operations, including closing the shop if necessary," says Yoshida.

さらに、行列ができる混雑時には来店客が手伝う「孫制度」も導入。行列整理などを担ってもらう代わりにドリンクを提供する仕組みで、世代を超えた関わりを生み出す試みとして今後、混雑状況に合わせて導入を予定している。

"We want to overcome the age barrier"—the aspirations of employees

Sachiko, a 78-year-old staff member working at the store, says, "There are many energetic and active seniors out there, but in Japan, there's a huge age limit barrier." She adds, "Many people want to live healthy and positive lives. I think this is a place where such people can connect with society. I'm also attracted to the fact that communication with young people can take place in Shibuya."

「誰もが社会と関われるようになれば、生きがいにもつながるし、健康寿命も延びる」という78歳の幸子さん

Furthermore, with the rise of nuclear families and a lifestyle centered around smartphones reducing intergenerational contact, "having opportunities to talk face-to-face provides positive stimulation for both sides."

最年長80歳の勇さん

勇さんは、「ここは無理なく通えるのがいい。働くというより、自分にできることを少しでも役立てられたらという気持ち」と話し、「実際にやってみるととにかく楽しい。若い人との出会いもあり、笑顔が多い場所」と笑顔を見せる。勇さんは海外で働いた経験も豊富で、外国人客に英語で応対することも。店内には終始笑い声が広がり、来店客とスタッフの自然な会話が交わされていた。

Urban experiments emerging in the "gap" between redevelopment projects

The store is contractually planned to be a temporary store for about 1.5 to 2 years, and may close or be extended depending on the progress of the redevelopment. Yoshida said, "I wanted to create a place where 'youthful spirit' rather than age is valued. I want to create a cycle where both the people who work there and the people who come there can feel energized."

Shibuya is constantly changing due to redevelopment. The small shops that have appeared in the gaps between these changes are not merely a way to create buzz, but also a way to question the way we work and the relationships between generations in the future society. In this city that has been a hub for culture such as fashion and music, "G-CHA & Ba-CHA" proposes a new theme: "the way of working for seniors."

”FOREVER YOUNG FOREVER GENKI”の電飾　

The slogan is "Youth isn't about age, it's about spirit!" -- Attention is focused on what kind of new landscape this place, where people from different generations and roles come together, will create in Shibuya.

Venue

Interviews and writing

Editorial Department: Takashi Fujii

Shibuya registrar. In addition to Shibuya of Culture information, seasonal news and topics, it will spell write that feel every day.