AS they celebrate 44 years of serving visitors and residents with superb Japanese food on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, the Kinpachi Restaurant management team and staff also want to express their gratitude to the local community for helping the business survive through all the economic challenges it has encountered over the years.
Owner Misako Kamata said over four decades ago, more than half of their customers were tourists. Today, she said, between 70% and 80% of their customers are local residents.
Expressing their appreciation to members of the local community should be the highlight of this year’s anniversary celebration, Kamata said.
Starting today, Friday, Sept. 13 through Sunday, Sept. 15, Kinpachi customers can win a $44 gift certificate in the Kujibiki Raffle. They can also avail themselves of a 4% discount on all drinks during dinnertime, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
“We greatly appreciate our valued customers’ continued support all these years,” Kamata said.
Despite all the challenges that the CNMI has faced over the years, she said the restaurant remains open because of the patronage of local community members.
“If not for them, we probably would have closed many years ago,” she said.
It was their local customers along with their employees who helped the restaurant grow and survive, she added.
Kinpachi, for its part, continues to give back to the community by helping the local people, especially the children. Kamata organized the local Awaodori team 17 years ago to give the local youth an opportunity to learn Japanese culture and help promote the CNMI in Japan.
Not a good year
For local businesses, Kamata said, this year is probably worse than the Covid-19 pandemic years. During the pandemic, she added, the people and local businesses received financial assistance from the federal government. This year, no such assistance is forthcoming.
However, “there is always a good reason to celebrate,” Kamata said.
Despite the harsh economic reality in the CNMI, she said, Kinpanchi remains committed to the local community and continues to be grateful to them. “That is the only reason we stay,” she said.
Kamata said they are still hoping that things will get better, starting next year. That is why they are now looking forward to their 45th anniversary in 2025, when they plan to hold a bigger celebration.
Kinpachi Restaurant in Garapan, across from Crown Plaza Resort Saipan, will celebrate its 44th anniversary on Sept. 15, 2024
Kinpachi Restaurant opened on Sept. 15, 1980.
Kinpachi Restaurant’s longest serving cook is Loreto E. Dedoyco.
