Tadayuki Kato's mental index.
＜K＞ Kiyoken

2025.12.25

Photo： Tadayuki Kato

Edit： Naoya Tsuneshige

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Doing what you love and being surrounded by things you love. Beams' famous buyer, Kato Tadayuki, is a rare hobbyist. As a result of constantly keeping his antennae up in all sorts of genres, the number of people, things and events that interest him is immeasurable. If Kato Tadayuki's mind were to be put into a book, the index would probably look something like this. In the second installment, "Ki = Kiyoken."

It's just well balanced.

Houyhnhnm

After vegetables, we'll talk about Kiyoken. We've ended up talking about food unexpectedly (laughs), but first, could you tell us about your relationship with Kiyoken?

Kato

You see, I was born in Kamakura and raised in Yokohama, so I'm a true "Hamako." So when it comes to bento, I either have Kamakura's "Ofunaken's Horse Mackerel Pressed Sushi" or Yokohama's "Kiyoken's Shumai Bento." Those are the only two choices in my head.

Houyhnhnm

It's a taste that you've been familiar with since childhood.

Kato

That's right. Kiyoken Shumai Bento was always handed out at agricultural cooperative sports meets and fire brigade opening ceremonies. Even now, my generation almost always buys a Kiyoken Shumai Bento if we're going somewhere by Shinkansen. I've always been captivated by its perfect balance.

Houyhnhnm

The main dish is shumai, with side dishes of simmered bamboo shoots, grilled marinated tuna, and fried chicken. Apricots and a round ball of rice are served as palate cleansers. It's certainly a perfect balance, but it's typical of Kato to come up with the idea of collaborating from there.

Kato

Did you know there's a shumai bento made in the style of Utamaru-san (the late Katsura Utamaru)? Utamaru-san loves fried rice, but doesn't like green peas, so it's topped with shrimp instead. What's more, the soy sauce container, which is usually decorated with Hyo-chan (the official character of Kiyoken), has been turned into a portrait of Utamaru-san. When I see things like that, I think, "I want to do that too!"