 | This article does not cite any sources. (March 2022) |
CLUB96 interviewed Tomohiro Kanemoto in regards to his BIOHAZARD Cafe & Grill S.T.A.R.S. venture, which opened the month before.
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Sneak into Biohazard Cafe & Grill S.T.A.R.S., which just opened in July!
We would like to bring you an interview with Mr. Tomohiro Kanemoto, who was in charge of planning and producing.
――First of all, please tell us about the concept of Resident Evil Cafe & Grill S.T.A.R.S.
兼元知大氏(以下､兼元): It's a restaurant that can be enjoyed by adults, including the fan base of "Bio". "Bio" is also a work that doesn't often feature children. Also, we didn't want it to become a mess with zombies appearing. In short, we want people to enjoy a proper meal. Of course, we have incorporated the characteristics of "Resident Evil" into the restaurant, and it has become a place of relaxation for S.T.A.R.S. members.
――This shop is set in July 1998, just before the biohazard outbreak in Raccoon City.
兼元: I decided on that timing because I thought that there was only a period after July 1998 when a biohazard might or might not occur. Before the biohazard outbreak, Umbrella would have been a normal pharmaceutical company. We're not doing this as a company, ostensibly. I thought we couldn't create a "Bio" feel unless it was right before the Mansion Incident, when signs of the biohazard were beginning to appear. On the other hand, after that, Raccoon City would completely collapse. That would be an incompatible situation for a restaurant, so we had to pinpoint July 1998.
――I see, it's perfect timing.
兼元:There is Raccoon City's newspaper, the Daily Raccoon, which is available as luncheon paper on the table, and there is an article that says that there are many mysterious incidents such as disappearances, and that S.T.A.R.S. has been ordered to investigate. It's listed there. If it was around that time, I think it would be possible to have a bar where S.T.A.R.S. is still busy with the investigation, but come in in-between.
――So it recreates the atmosphere of that time.
兼元:That's right. The BGM in the store only uses songs that were on the Billboard charts up to July 1998. It seems that these are nostalgic songs for adults.
――First of all, how did you come to open this store?
兼元:Last year, the "Bio" series celebrated its 15th anniversary, and Capcom asked me if we could do something to commemorate it. At first, I thought they would be speaking to me at a restaurant, but... Actually, I was thinking that a restaurant in "Bio" would be something like that. When you think of a restaurant in "Bio", you may have the image of disgusting meat or zombies. I don't think there are too many. If that were the case, I didn't think it was suitable as a place to eat, so I thought I'd like to open a restaurant if it gives me a different view of the world. The titles I've worked on so far are: Considering that our customer base and target audience would be completely different from those of other restaurants, we decided that if we could create a place where adults in their 20s and above could relax and enjoy themselves, let's do it.
――It seems like most of the customers who come to the store are adults, which is exactly what they're aiming for.
兼元: The fact that we have a lot of adults coming is what we were aiming for, but when we do it here at Shibuya Parco, we also have a mission to gain a new fan base, and we would like to have a lot of women come as well. I made it with my heart in mind, so for example, I chose the costumes for the dance team S.T.A.R.S. ANGELIQUE from a woman's perspective, so that they would not be too naughty for women, but would be a little sexy for men.
――They certainly have a healthy sexiness to them.
兼元:We have a new fan base, especially women, who have only seen the "Resident Evil" movies or only know the name, and we want to create an atmosphere that will make them want to come. In other words, it's an atmosphere where it's easy for men to bring women with them. It's working to some extent, and in fact, there are more female customers than men. The ratio of men to women is about 4:6.
――That's surprising.
兼元:I was also surprised. Even though I asked for women to come, I thought there would be a majority of men, about 8:2. But what surprised me even more was the number of overseas customers. I see that you use it a lot.
――Do many people visit Japan for sightseeing?
兼元: There are a lot of tourists. I think most people come in groups of two. There are also people who work in Japan who come in groups. Here, we have show times several times a day. However, one out of every three overseas customers says "Amazing!".
――I can see them having fun and having fun.
~The second part will deliver the charm of the show and the unknown behind-the-scenes setting of Cafe & Grill S.T.A.R.S.~
――Showtime is one of the highlights of Resident Evil Cafe & Grill S.T.A.R.S., and it's quite elaborate.
兼元:Yes, the show progresses with the dances of S.T.A.R.S. ANGELIQUE. It's an event that brings the whole store together. I think we were able to create something quite complete as entertainment.
――Everyone at Angelique not only serves food, but also fights the Tyrant with dance.
兼元:That's right. This restaurant is a restaurant exclusively for S.T.A.R.S. members, and the staff members themselves are S.T.A.R.S. members. The girls, Angelique, are based on the image of new members like Rebecca. Their costumes are also somewhat reminiscent of Rebecca. It's Rebecca's extra costume that appears in the remake version of "Resident Evil," and it's based on a Western-style vest and shorts. However, Angelique and others are still younger than the newbie Rebecca. He is set up as a child, and he works here while also training.
――For example, my position would be like that of a trainee in an idol group.
兼元:That's right. However, they are also regular S.T.A.R.S. members, so if an incident occurs, they will naturally stand up with guns. Therefore, when the Tyrant goes on a rampage, it is only natural for them to fight.
――As expected from S.T.A.R.S. members, their dancing is also very energetic.
兼元:Their dance was produced by TAKAHIRO, who used to be Madonna's backup dancer. Some of the girls themselves are dancers, gravure artists, and even idols. It's extremely expensive. In the first place, you may be wondering why we would dance in Bio, but dancing is entertainment that has no language barriers and can be understood by overseas customers, and even those who haven't played Bio can enjoy it. We have included it so that you can enjoy it.
――I see. Anyone can understand how this will unfold.
兼元:At the climax, Angelique and her friends take the guns displayed on the wall and fight back.The guns hanging on the wall are not only used for decoration, but are also used during the show.At the end of showtime, the audience You may even be asked to hold a gun and cooperate with us. You can also take a commemorative photo with your gun if you wish.
――That makes me happy. By the way, this Tyrant is really impressive.
兼元: This is a life-size figure created by Rainbow Zokei Kikaku, which is in charge of hero suits. We chose the Tyrant out of many creatures because it is a symbol of "Bio" and because of this shop. The concept of 1998 was the deciding factor. When it came to B.O.W.s being developed at that time, I thought that this could only be Tyrant. The setting was that a S.T.A.R.S. member somehow entered this test tube. It is decorated with the meaning of discovering and monitoring the Tyrant. By the way, the voice of the Tyrant on Showtime is played by Nicholas Pettus, the store's image character and the supreme commander of S.T.A.R.S. It's happening.
――That's right. I heard that Nicholas often appears at the store...
兼元:Yes
兼元:Yes, we hope that you will enjoy your meal slowly and wait for "that time".｡
――Yes, please tell us about the other highlight, the food.
兼元:Since everyone who comes to the store is a member of S.T.A.R.S., we want them to enjoy eating like a member, so we offer all-you-can-eat meat. It's churrasco style, where the meat is served right in front of the customers. Of course, it is Angelique and others who serve.
――You can cut the meat into as many pieces as you like.
兼元:Yes, everyone is eating a lot. We want you to be so full that you think, "I don't need to eat meat for a while." And once a month, I hope you remember this restaurant the next time you want to eat meat again. If you come here thinking, "I want to eat some meat," or "Then let's go to Bio's Cafe." Happy.
――It seems that many people are repeat customers.
兼元:Yes, we hand out stamp cards to people who visit our store, and some of them have already gotten their third card. If you collect 25 stamps on each card, you get a new card. However, each stamp card has a different design, such as Rebecca on the first one and Barry on the second one. Currently, we have up to 5 stamp cards available. Each time you renew your card, you will receive goods that are not for sale. We are giving them away, so we hope you get them. The goods you get when you get the first one are the original beer glasses that we also use at the store. I'm looking forward to seeing what the next goods and cards will look like.
――The same goes for beer glasses, but it's also nice to see a logo casually emblazoned on the tableware used for cooking.
兼元:The cups, whiskey bottles, etc. are also original. Since S.T.A.R.S. is a special forces unit, we have also used military food as a motif to create rice bowls, etc., so I think you will enjoy it with your eyes as well. Come to think of it, we get a lot of inquiries from customers about tableware, and one day we even had a customer from overseas who really wanted us to sell them...Maybe one day we'll be able to sell them as goods.
――Now, could you tell us about your future prospects?
兼元:This is something we have been trying to keep in mind since the beginning, but we want to continue to make it a place where both fans of Bio and those who have never played the game can enjoy it. I think fans of "Bio" will enjoy the decorations such as the Tyrant and guns, but for those who haven't played it, it's important to note that the entertainment show is complete and the food is delicious. I think these two things will become more important. I think these two things are the same for the fans as well, so I really want to focus on that. As for the show, I've watched it hundreds of times, and I've never gotten tired of it. Just watching the dance is fun, and I can't help but feel excited when everyone comes together to fight the Tyrant. Angelique and others are working hard every day to make sure that when you see this show, you think, "That was great. I want to come again." Also, there are many women who come to our store with their friends. We've heard from customers that they would love to have male store staff, so we would like to address this as a future issue.
――Lastly, please give a message to our readers.
兼元:When you hear that it's a "Bio" restaurant, you may think, "I can't have a meal if zombies come out," but Resident Evil Cafe & Grill S.T.A.R.S. offers a proper meal and a comfortable space. Delicious food and energetic and cute members are always waiting for you. We hope that you will enjoy the world of "Resident Evil" while having a little conversation with them. The menu is not only all-you-can-eat, but also a la carte, so please feel free to come and visit us. The weekday lunchtime is especially popular.
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