Who wants dinner today?" From a cook to a dad who serves food to everyone. He found his "specialty" at Social Apartment.

Social apartments are attractive because they allow people to enjoy interacting with others at their own pace while cherishing their private time.

With about 50 buildings mainly in the Tokyo metropolitan area, these exchange-style rental apartments are gaining popularity among people in their 20s and 30s.

This time, we interviewed "Koujin," who has been living in Neighbors Higashi Jujo, a social apartment just a four-minute walk from Higashi Jujo Station, for the past six months.

He is from Hyogo Prefecture. He decided to move to Tokyo on a whim, saying, "I've always wanted to live in Tokyo! But then he realized that he had no friends in Tokyo (!). He realized that he had no friends at all in Tokyo (!). We caught up with him to learn more about his first experience living in a social apartment.

I want to live in Tokyo for once in my life. But I don't have any friends.

Kojin-san, first of all, what made you decide to live in a social apartment?

Koujin:

I was born and raised in Hyogo Prefecture. When I started working, I moved to Osaka and worked as a customer service representative and stylist for an apparel company, but when I was 26 years old, I started working part-time at a nearby hotel while helping out my parents.

About a year later, at the same time, I had no job to begin with, no house, and no reason to return to Osaka. I had no job, no house, and no reason to return to Osaka! I decided to move to Tokyo.

But I didn't have that many friends in Tokyo.

That's certainly a disheartening point for a person from a rural area.

Kojin:

Yes. That's why the first thing that came to mind was the share house option. When I was working part-time at a hotel, I was envious of my coworkers who lived and worked there. After work, I would go home to my parents' house, but everyone else would be in someone else's room drinking and having deep conversations. I like that sense of family.

However, I thought it would be troublesome if I had to share the same bathroom or take out the garbage on garbage duty, so I did some research and found Social Apartment.

Koujin:

I have a foot in the fashion industry, so when I saw the website, I was really attracted to the design of the apartment itself. I thought, "This place looks great! (laughs).

To be honest, I had no familiarity with the area, so choosing Higashi Jujo was fate at best, or at worst, chance. Now I work at a perfume store about an hour away by train, but I decided on a job after deciding on a house, so accessibility is not good at all (laughs). But I really wanted to live in a social apartment, so I am happy with the result!

"Who wants dinner today? To the person who cooks for everyone....

How do you feel now that you actually live in SA?

Kojin:

For the first time, I realized that I can cook.

I have always liked cooking, and even when I was living alone, my hobby was to stand in front of the kitchen all day long on my days off, drinking and cooking. However, I never served it to anyone. So I didn't know how good I was at cooking.

But when I moved to SA, there was an open kitchen, and when I was cooking, someone would talk to me and say, "Do you want some of this? I was in an environment where I could say to each other, "Do you want some of this? I was told, " This is very tasty," and "This is at the level of a restaurant.

So what you had been doing casually for a long time was actually your strength.

Kojin:

That's right! I had never had anyone to act like that before, so I was totally unaware of it (laughs).

At first, I just asked people who were interested to come and see the show, "Do you want some? Then, people started asking me to cook for them for money, and now I serve food to everyone every day.

It is commonly known as the "children's cafeteria" (laughs).

A relationship that starts with a meal. That's nice.

Kojin:

I feel like a mother. "Who wants dinner today? (laugh).

Everyone has their own life, so the members are different every day, but I look at each member and think, "I want something hearty today," or "This girl said she likes this," and decide on the menu, check what is inexpensive at the supermarket, incorporate seasonal elements... .

Come to think of it, it is my mother who is more pleased than anyone else that I am cooking for everyone. When I called her and told her how amazing her mother was, she said, "You should all eat! and she sent me some foodstuffs.

By the way, isn't it hard to serve food to everyone?

Kojin:

For me, cooking is like meditation. The moment I'm cooking, I become detached, and it's refreshing. So whether I am cooking for myself or for someone else, it is not hard for me.

Especially since I moved into a social apartment, I am happy to have a large kitchen, and I cook for two to three hours every night, sometimes until midnight at the longest.

Besides, it makes me happy to hear someone say, "It tastes good! Recently, I have been holding a marché at night. I select my own wine and come up with several kinds of snacks.

Starting next year, I would like to open a restaurant where I rent a room once a week and serve wine and weekly dishes. Living in a social apartment has given me a new dream.

I am so glad I chose this place for the first time in Tokyo.

How do you usually spend your time in SA?

Kojin:

There are days when I work late or go out drinking, but I definitely try to show up in the common area. Every day since I moved here, except when I travel or go home (laughs). Talking to everyone recharges my energy, and I feel relieved when I meet people here.

From a place where I really didn't know anyone, I think I have made a lot of important family members.

What do you like about Social Apartment?

Kojin:

It's a place where you can find what you like. What I like and who I like.

Of course, there are all kinds of people here, so each of us has different tensions. Some people like to have fun and drink while others like to talk in a relaxed atmosphere while cooking. I think this is a place where you can find the right person for you.

When I visited the facility for a preview, it was during the daytime on a weekday, so I was a little worried about fitting in when I saw everyone working silently on telework. But as soon as I came into contact with various people and found someone who fit in with me, I knew I had a reason to come down to the common area.

So I hope that you will never give up, and that you will show up at the common area and get involved with all kinds of people.

Lastly, please give a message to those who are currently considering moving in!

Kojin:

I think this place is really perfect for a local like me. I think it's really perfect for people like me who live in the countryside. I think coming to Tokyo by yourself can be a bit of a daunting experience. You don't know anyone and you don't know the geography. If I had come to Tokyo and lived by myself, I would have spent many lonely days....

There are people from all backgrounds among the residents, not only Tokyo residents, but also many people who come from the countryside like myself, so I feel safe. While I didn't know anything, I learned a lot about Tokyo and delicious restaurants.

I am very glad that I chose this place as my first place in Tokyo.

Your words are very encouraging. Thank you very much for your time today!

(Reporting and writing by Yuki Ishikawa, Photography by Tsugufumi Matsuma)