“Omotenashi”: the Japanese Hospitality Mindset Behind Go! Go! Curry!’s Corporate Culture
Hello friends,
My previous topic was Go! Go! Curry!’s franchise system and how it worked. I hope our established system is an attractive one to those who are interested in a franchise opportunity. But I’d like to emphasize that the spirit behind the system is equally important to know if you’d like to join our family as a franchisee. So, I’ll talk about the concept of “omotenashi”, a hospitality mindset in Japan, which lies behind Go! Go! Curry!’s franchise business.
“To serve wholeheartedly” might be the simplest translation of omotenashi. The word is often used for describing excellent service in high-end hotels and restaurants, as well as the formal and elegant way of treating guests in traditional tea ceremonies. However, the omotenashi mindset is not only applicable to those special establishments. Whether it’s an upscale restaurant or a fast food joint, the caring, kind, and helpful omotenashi mindset is the standard in all food and hospitality businesses in Japan. When you go into Japanese restaurants or stores, you are welcomed with the cheerful greeting “Irasshaimase”, and a smile! We aim to achieve this omotenashi atmosphere here in Go! Go! Curry! America as well.
We interpret the omotenashi mindset in our own way, and thus break it down to our “5 Spirits” and “5 Core Values”, which are the philosophical and practical foundations of our corporate culture. They are as follows:
The 5 Spirits
- Serve with a Smile
- Communicate Well and Work as a Team
- Help Each Other and Respect Each Other
- Always Try to Improve
- Think Positive Every Day
The 5 Core Values
- Quality
- Smile
- Speed
- Serve Accurately
- Cleanliness
As you may notice, both mottos include the word “smile”. A smile is very important for us, and in a way, it’s an essential part of our uniform! I want our franchisees to embrace this part of culture as well. Actually, it’s pretty much a prerequisite to be involved in any Japanese restaurant franchise business.
Next time, I’d like to talk about drinks that pair well with Japanese curry rice. Until then, don’t forget your smile, and stay genki!
If you are interested in a low-cost food franchise or curry restaurant business, we could be a great partner.
About The Author:
Tomoko Omori was born and raised in Japan. She came to the USA alone to become an actress, where she received an AA degree from college majoring in Drama. She received a scholarship to study music at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in NYC.
After working for TV broadcasting and a publishing company, today, Tomoko is the CEO of Go! Go! Curry! America, a grab-and-go Japanese comfort food restaurant franchise. There are over 75 locations in Japan, and 11 in the USA. She says, “Our mission is to serve our tasty curry nationwide in the USA and Canada to enrich the lives of our customers, employees, franchise owners and the communities we serve. Our vision is to create millions of satisfied customers, contented tummies and miles and miles of smiles for everyone!” Tomoko received the Nikkei BP Woman of the year award in 2015.