From Kiln to Café: How Monné Legui Mooks transformed Hasami’s past into its future

After being invited to Hasami by a friend, the café’s original owner - who was living in Tokyo at the time - was shown the grounds of a long-abandoned 100-year-old pottery factory. Where others saw decay, he saw potential. Gathering a small team, he returned to breathe new life into the space, transforming the empty workshops into a warm, welcoming café where locals and travelers could meet, eat, and talk. His dream was simple but powerful: to turn Hasami into the kind of town that young people who had left for work or study could one day return to - and feel proud to call home.

Mooks’ menu is small but full of character. If you enjoy a little spice, the Coconut Milk Curry is a local favorite. Personally, I’m a big fan of the Sautéed Bamboo Shoot and Eggplant with Meat Miso, served with rice - a comforting, homemade-style dish with flavors that can be hard to find in small-town Japan. For many regulars, however, the true highlights are the sweets, all crafted by manager Okada-san, who trained as a pastry chef at a well-known French café in Asakusa, Tokyo before moving to Hasami two decades ago. Her signature Crème Brûlée is light and silky, while the Gateau au Chocolat, served with fresh cream and a tart berry sauce, is a must for chocolate lovers.

One of the most charming aspects of the café is the eclectic seating - each table comes with its own distinct chairs, inviting every guest to find a spot that feels just right. Natural light filters through decades-old glass windows, and the original stone-paved floor remains underfoot. Tucked into the corners of the space you’ll find tiny treasures and trinkets - many of them gifts from customers over the past 20 years. They’re physical reminders of the café’s close tie to the local community, and its commitment to being more than just a place to eat.

Nishinohara sits on the former site of a pottery factory that operated from 1926 until 2001. Many of the original workshops and studios - which were officially recognized as a Japan Heritage site in 2012 - remain, now repurposed into shops, cafés, and creative spaces. Today, the area is home to ten unique stores, including local favorites like Kometama Ice Cream, and gallery and workshop space Minami Souko, making it a fun, walkable destination for visitors and a way to preserve the town’s rich pottery legacy while celebrating its vibrant present.

Fans of manga might recognize Monné Legui Mooks from Ao no Hana, Utsuwa no Mori, a josei series by Yuki Kodama, the creator of Kids on the Slope. Set in Hasami, the story follows a young woman working in the pottery industry, capturing the quiet beauty of small-town life and the subtle rhythms of romance. Celebrated for its nuanced portrayal of adult relationships and daily life, the series offers a charming glimpse into Japan’s pottery culture  - perfect for readers looking to brush up on their Japanese or anyone curious about the world of Japanese porcelain.