THE WAYWE ARE
Bringing smiles to
everyone&s faces and
happiness to the world
MISSION
To bring smiles to everyone we touch, and to continue creating vitality and happiness for tomorrow. That is our unchanging mission.
CITABRIA
Philosophy
Restaurabo
Paris in the 18th century, with its hustle and bustle and cold air, bearing the remnants of the old monarchy. At a store on a street corner where weary travelers and people in poor health pass by, a man kindly offers a bowl of warm soup. The man's name: Boulanger. The soups he made were not meant to satisfy hunger. Rather, they were designed to restore strength to the physically weak and light a peaceful light in people's hearts. People called the soup “bouillon restaurant” (restorative bouillon). A sign on the storefront read: Venite ad me omnes qui stomacho laboratis et ego restaurabo vos. “Come to me, all you who labor with a tired stomach, and I will restore you.” This word, restaurabo - to heal, to restore vitality - later morphed into the word restaurant. Restaurants are not just places to fill people's stomachs. Restaurants are ”places that energize people and bring smiles to their faces,” and we believe in restaurants’ power to do just that.
A view of the restaurant CITABRIA in 2005
A spirit passed
down from
generation to generation
On September 4, 2010, a restaurant quietly closed its doors for the last time.
CITABRIA was a hidden restaurant tucked away in an alleyway between Aoyama and Kotto Street. This legendary place was later transformed into L'Effervescence.
Once you passed through the entrance, surrounded by water and greenery, you would find yourself in a different world away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Every night, this space was filled with the warmth and smiling faces of people who knew they were getting the real deal.
The staff remembered not only the names and voices of customers, but also their idiosyncrasies. The refined service and cuisine quickly captivated Tokyoites who knew the best of what the city had to offer.
Those who worked at the legendary CITABRIA restaurant took the greatest joy and pride in pouring their heart and soul into accepting and exceeding customers' expectations
and even their unspoken thoughts.
That spirit is still alive and well in all of our establishments.
Our mission also remains unchanged: To bring smiles to the faces of all, and to continue to create a dynamic, happy approach to tomorrow.
CITABRIA Inc.
CEO: Satoshi Ishida
INTERVIEW
CITABRIA
Philosophy
Wonderful work that touches the very foundation of life
It has been more than 40 years since I started working in the food industry.
Now I have a renewed appreciation that this job gives me a sense of joy and a sense of being alive; I wouldn’t swap it for anything else.
I feel that this work, which touches the very foundation of life, is more “life-affirming” than merely “rewarding.”
Part of the magic of working in the food industry is that the person who serves the food and the person who enjoys the food can be on equal footing.
Of course, a customer is still a customer, but regardless of whether they are the president of a nation or the owner of a large corporation, everyone is equal when it comes to food. We can enjoy serious competition through food based on mutual respect. There is no other job like this.
That is why we treat our ingredients that have been nurtured over a long period of time with the utmost care, as if they were our own children, and devote every spare moment and all our energies to preparing and innovating with these ingredients.
But the real fun of this job lies in its ephemeral nature.
Each creation disappears from the world only a short time after its completion.
It appears, then disappears, and all that remains for the customer are memories.
We put everything we possess into something that will vanish in an instant.
Some may say this is ridiculous, but for me it is a source of great pride.
That is why I get really annoyed by people who treat this work without the care it deserves, and likewise, I cannot tolerate any disrespect for food and the art of eating.
I believe that this job will never disappear because it is such an ephemeral yet precious vocation.
I can proudly say that this business will survive advances in AI and any social upheaval.
We will continue to
protect and connect.
CITABRIA has evolved significantly over the past decade.
Not only has the restaurant changed, but I believe I have also updated my own thinking.
So even if I retire in the next 10 years, I am sure that CITABRIA will continue to evolve.
And every time it evolves, it will surprise people.
I believe that there are many people in this company who have the ability to astound.
However, at the base of their work, I hope that they will always keep in mind the future of the food and beverage industry, global development, and people’s happiness.
We have always held on to that outlook.
And above all, our mission is to continue carefully protecting the soul of food-related work, hospitality, and Japan quality, and pass these ideals on to the next generation.
Japan's world-class food culture will not disappear as long as CITABRIA is around.
CITABRIA Inc.
CEO: Satoshi Ishida
The values
we cherish
Our cherished values emanate from within.
From a clear mind, with a spirit of harmony, we gently resonate with others. This involves every single movement, every breath, every pause, and even the “atmosphere” that permeates the space. A heart that cares for others can even improve the atmosphere.
CITABRIA will stick to its unchanging policy of welcoming the customer in front of us as a uniquely valuable person as we serve them sincerely, gracefully, and with all our heart.
CITABRIA
Values we cherish
01.
Once-in-a-lifetime
encounters
We cherish and are sincerely grateful for encounters and opportunities that we consider to be once-in-a-lifetime occurrences.
02.
Treating
everyone equally
We welcome all our customers equally with warmth and consideration.
03.
Putting
others first
Our thoughts and actions are guided by prioritizing the happiness and satisfaction of our customers.
04.
Heartfelt
courtesy
We pay attention to every detail and provide sincere and courteous hospitality.