A simple life that suits you.
"Just right" for us now
Good things from Japan.
A couple who returned from Taiwan chose "cool" tools and foods that are kind to the mind and body and enrich life.
Welcome to Xiaoqiao Shouten (小恰好商店). Our store is run by a married couple in their 50s, Masao Komatsu and Miko, who returned to Japan in 2023 after starting a business and living in Taiwan for 13 years.
We currently live a simple life within our means in a small home on the outskirts of Tokyo. This shop collects only the finest Japanese foods and tools that we use in our daily lives and that we truly feel are "just right" for us at this point in our lives.
Why we started this store
"We do not want Japan's careful handicrafts and rich food culture to disappear." This is our fundamental wish.
While living in Taiwan, we experienced firsthand how trusted and admired Japanese products are, but at the same time, we also witnessed the reality that within Japan, great traditions and techniques are quietly disappearing in the face of cheap mass-produced goods.
We first use the honest products made all over Japan, then we speak of their quality and share them with people in Japan and around the world. In this way, profits are returned to the artisans and producers who make them, and the techniques are passed on to the next generation. Creating such a "comfortable cycle" is the mission of Kokagaya Shoten.
Our Story
Why did I give up everything and return to Japan in my 50s? Why did I choose this lifestyle? The "eventful story behind the birth of this store" is written in detail on our blog.
AI can't choose. Kokako Shoten's "Three Selection Criteria"
Our store does not have any "best-selling products" that have been identified through marketing research. All we have are products that my husband and I use regularly in our daily lives and truly believe we cannot live without.
Real-life experience
~ "Primary information" confirmed with our five senses ~
We never purchase products solely based on online reviews or spec sheets (secondary information). We only introduce products that we have actually eaten, used, and experienced as truly good in our daily lives.
Sustainable
~ "Kindness" to the body and mind for people in their 50s and older ~
Because we are at an age where we are concerned about our own health, we choose things that will keep our minds and bodies healthy, rather than choosing things that are just passing fads.
Dogmatism and prejudice
~ Will it fit into our lives? ~
This is our biggest criterion. No matter how luxurious a product may be, we won't sell it if it doesn't fit into our simple, unpretentious lifestyle. Conversely, even if it's a little inconvenient or requires a lot of maintenance, we wholeheartedly recommend it if it's something we can cherish and use for a lifetime.
Furthermore, we choose "preservation" over "cheapness." Even if the price seems high at first glance, we purchase and sell rare techniques that are in danger of disappearing and "genuine" items that should be passed on to future generations at "fair prices" that allow makers to continue making them without strain. We do not bargain just for the sake of cheap prices. This protects the livelihood of makers and allows users to understand the true value of the products. We believe it is our responsibility to bridge the gap between makers and users at "honest prices" that enrich both parties.
Some people may be surprised and ask, "Why are these things being sold?!" However, there is a deep reason behind each product. We hope you enjoy our human selection criteria, which are based on our husband and wife's arbitrary and biased opinions and what we think is "great!" after trying them out.
The thoughts behind the store name "Kogako"
The store's name, "Xiao Qiao," comes from the Chinese word "cha hao" or "cha cha hao," which means "just right" or "perfect."
By adding the character "small" to the name, we hope that it will be a small, friendly product that will gently accompany you in your life.
It is not about overreaching luxury or imitating someone else, but about finding something just right that fits your current lifestyle. We hope to provide you with such a comfortable experience here.
Please take your time and enjoy your shopping.