Kinpachi at 35: Arigato!

– Giving back to the community for their continued support

– ‘Mini street market’ fundraiser to benefit Soudelor survivors

In its 35 years of existence on island, Kinpachi Restaurant believes in two things that has made it last this long: luck and people.

Kinpachi’s Misako Kamata said they were lucky that her father, the late Yoshio Kamata, started the business early on Sept. 15, 1980, and that tourists as well as locals just love Japanese food.

But she also believes that getting along with and understanding people, whether guests or employees, are important to one’s business.

“Even if you have food, without the people you won’t have a business,” Kamata said.

Having lived on Saipan much longer than in Japan, this island is now home for Kamata, and its people have become her family. Which is why the instinct to help soon after Typhoon Soudelor hit Saipan came naturally for her.

“I learned a lot from the people living here. If I lived in Japan, I don’t think I will be doing these things, how you helped each other, the people here. That’s what I learned,” Kamata said.

Although their restaurant also had a hard time operating after Typhoon Soudelor hit, Kamata, with the help of her employees, was still able to reach out and help the community.

Kinpachi has been providing meals to volunteers responding to relief efforts as well as to residents who need it most. About a thousand meals have already been served and they continue to serve meals to those with special needs at the Office on Aging.

“It was hard but I felt that people were suffering more. I knew I can do it anyway so we just helped,” Kamata said.

“Kinpachi was one of the few restaurants that opened from the day after Soudelor, the first restaurant that started donating hot lunches to the people in need, and still doing it,” CORE’s Mami Ikeda said. “Their compassion to help the community is jaw-dropping and unbeatable. And all the kindest, most generous considerations, love and support they gave C.O.R.E. while we distribute their bento boxes, I just can’t thank them enough. Yet, Kinpachi never stop giving, even on their anniversary.”

Arigato!

Their outreach to the community doesn’t stop there. Instead of holding a grand celebration for their 35th anniversary, Kinpachi will be holding a fundraiser to benefit Soudelor survivors.

“We thought of many ways to celebrate but because of this typhoon, we didn’t feel like celebrating,” Kamata said. “We’d like to share what we can and what we have.”

On Saturday, Kinpachi will be having a mini street market-style fundraiser called “Arigato!” at the Marianas Business Plaza parking lot from 11am to 2pm.

Special hot lunch, yakitori grills, taiyaki grills, as well as mochi will be served and all proceeds will go to the Community Outreach Recovery Efforts, which is doing direct relief efforts as well as medical outreaches on Saipan. There will also be free giveaways from 360 Restaurant and many more.

“Misako-san said they just wanted to thank the community that has been supporting them for 35 years and they don’t want to make any money,” CORE member Kazuyo Estrada said. “So Misako-san decided to give it to the CORE to purchase whatever stuff we need for the relief efforts.”

“All the comprehensive recovery that we’re doing, we’re going to utilize that fund to continue those efforts,” CORE member Glen Hunter said.

Aside from great food, there will also be performances from the Saipan Awaodori Team as well as other groups.

Kamata and the rest of the Kinpachi team as well as members of CORE are inviting the public to celebrate with the island’s longest-running Japanese restaurant while helping the community recover from Soudelor.

“We hope that the community will support us. This is not for Kinpachi but for the members of our community who needs help,” Kinpachi assistant manager Sonia Siwa said. (With Jayson Camacho)