FOLK SAKA: a naturally feel-good space in Osaka, created across borders

FOLK SAKA is a cafe opened in Fukushima area, Osaka by Erika from the United States and Scott from Scotland.

 

The "SAKA" in FOLK SAKA is a play on "saka" from Osaka and "chagashi" (tea & sweets in Japanese).

 

Filled with love for Osaka, the couple renovated an old Japanese house they found in the city where they had lived for eight years, and opened their own shop, a dream come true.

 

 

 

FOLK SAKA is created by a couple who are not originally from Japan, which is quite rare in Japan. I spoke to Erika and Scott, who came from two completely different countries, the USA and Scotland. They met in Osaka and created their own place across borders.

 

mood of FOLK SAKA. enjoy the music while you read the article :)

 

ー What made you choose Osaka among all the cities and regions in Japan?

 

Scott: I was just looking for a change, so I casually made my way to Osaka at first.

 

Actually, I used to work as an accountant in Australia.

 

Having spent my childhood in Australia due to my parents' jobs, I graduated from university and was lucky enough to land an accounting position right away. It was a field that many found tough to break into, and it was a good job, so I thought I’d have no complaints. But no matter how good the job was, I realised I wasn't fully satisfied with just being behind a desk.

 

I realised that I enjoyed interacting with people more than working behind a desk, which led me to leave my accounting job.

 

With that in mind, I chose to follow my passion for cooking and embarked on a journey to become a chef, starting in Australia and later working in restaurants across Italy and Scotland.

After spending 5 to 6 years travelling and gaining experience in various restaurants, I felt it was time for a change and decided to explore Japan, a country with a completely different culture.

 

 

— From accountant to chef, and then travelling around Europe to Japan… Scott certainly likes drastic changes 😳‼️

 

I imagine it wasn't an easy decision to leave a good job as an accountant, and it took courage to break away from the familiar Western culture. You've been living in Osaka for 8 years now, but did you plan to stay here for this long from the start?

 

Scott: Well, I initially planned to stay in Japan for just a year as a break.

But once I moved to Osaka, I met Erika, who lived next door in the same apartment building. And then, I ended up marrying her, which brings me to where I am now.

 

ー Oh! A local encounter! What a cute story! 🥰 What brought Erika to Osaka?

 

Erika: My mother is from Hiroshima, Japan, and I visited my grandparents there a couple of times as a kid. Then I wanted to explore my roots and thought about living in Hiroshima.

 

Erika's mom as child in Japan. Always been curious why she doesn't have an American smile in her pictures.

 

But there weren't many job opportunities in Hiroshima... So I chose Osaka to move, which is not far away from Hiroshima and has job openings. Actually, I had never visited Osaka before moving here. At that time, I never thought I would end up living in Osaka for this long.

 

My mother moved to the UK at 18 and has been living in the US ever since. I found her journey really inspiring and wanted to follow a similar path. That's why I studied at a university in the UK same just like her, and then I thought it was my turn to go to Japan, opposite to my mother’s experience.

Even though my mother is Japanese, we spoke English all the time at home. So when I first arrived in Osaka, I only knew a few basic Japanese words.

 

ー So you both initially came to Osaka without any serious plans, didn’t you? The culture and language here are completely different from English-speaking countries, but how do you find living in Osaka?

 

Erika: I love it so much! Osaka is energetic and vibrant, and I can’t imagine living in any other city.

 

Scott: I think Osaka has a warm-hearted vibe. I’ve been to major cities like London and Sydney, where a lot is going on. They seem cool to visit, but when it comes to living, it’s much easier to create a rhythm of life in Osaka.

I’m from Scotland, and Erika’s from the US. Both our hometowns are far away, but Osaka feels like it’s in the middle for us. Now, it really feels like our comfortable home.

 

 

Especially in the Fukushima area where FOLK SAKA is located, the locals are very friendly. It was something we didn’t expect at the beginning, but the locals in their 60s to 80s who live nearby stop by every morning for coffee and a chat. Some even bring their whole families to visit us.

 

Erika: Recently, one of the locals pointed out, “The menu text is too small and hard to read”, so we’re updating the menu to a larger font size that’s easier for elder people to read.

I think the friendly relationships we've built with the locals are a unique aspect of the charming atmosphere in Fukushima, and it’s been a lovely discovery.

 

ー It sounds like the locals really welcomed you. I believe it’s due to your friendliness and openness, but also the character of Osaka probably plays a role as well.

I’m originally from the Eastern Japan region and have spent a lot of time in Tokyo. I get the impression that many non-Japanese people living in Tokyo often feel lonely and experience a sense of distance from locals. With so many shops and non-stop competitions, even local Japanese people seem to have a different frequency and level of affection for the shops compared to those in Osaka and smaller cities.

 

It seems the closer distance in people relationships and the straightforward communication style of Osaka people really suit both of you :) How do you view Osaka in terms of geography?

 

Erika: We love hiking and often head to the mountains on our days off. In about an hour by train from Osaka, we can reach various mountains, and I love the balance between nature and the city.

Japan has well-maintained hiking trails and many beautiful mountains.

 

 

true mountain lovers ⛰️💕

 

ー That’s true! For example, in the US, there are big mountains, but you often have to drive for hours to reach them. Because the country is so vast, it takes quite a bit of effort to get there.

 

By the way, you did pop-up events for 4 years before opening FOLK SAKA. How did that all begin?

 

Erika: Well, I think it started as an excuse for Scott to ask me out on more dates 😉

 

While we were exploring cafés on our dates, we tried a soy tiramisu. Scott said, “I could probably make this!” and I suggested, “Why not? You’re an amazing chef.” Then he suggested trying to set up a pop-up. That’s how it all began.

 

In 2019, we started the pop-up, joining a variety of weekend markets across Osaka and around. At that time, we were both still working full-time, so FOLK SAKA was just a weekend activity for us.

 

Pop-up during the covid days 😷

 

In the beginning, it was the toughest. We encountered a lot of taxi drivers who rejected our large luggage for the market, and they said "No way!"

 

It was challenging until we got used to it, but once we set up, a variety of customers naturally came to our booth. It was an honour for us to see our regular customers, even at different locations.

 

Then we gradually started thinking about opening our own café.

 

Scott: So we started looking for a place, but we couldn't find a good one.

 

Erika: We searched everywhere, from Nakatsu to Nakazaki-cho and Tenroku... but the rent was incredibly high everywhere. Even though we weren’t looking in the central areas like Umeda or Namba, it was still out of our reach. Plus, we just didn’t feel the right vibe anywhere.

 

Scott: We kept searching for a long time, considering all sorts of places. Then, when we came to see this property in Fukushima, it just clicked instantly—“This is it!”

 

Erika: We both felt the same way when we arrived at this place. It was an old building, but that meant we had the freedom to renovate and make it our own.

 

Scott: Exactly. It’s a strange story, but the moment we saw this place, we made up our minds to open a shop right away, and we both quit our full-time jobs.

 

ー I understand the feeling; the intuition that made you feel 'right'. After that, you started crowdfunding for the renovation of the place. I got the impression that this project really reflects your strengths — being very good at design, PR, and involving people around you.

 

 You can have a look at the story before the renovation began 🏡

 

Erika: So many people supported us through crowdfunding. Beyond our friends, family, and regular customers, there were also some people who discovered us through Kickstarter website or Instagram.

 

Scott: It was such a wonderful surprise to reconnect with friends we hadn’t spoken to in a while, all because of the crowdfunding. People we’d lost touch with somehow found out about what we were up to, and they reached out to support us.

 

— It's similar to the concept of siesta magazine. Supporting someone’s real dream is actually enjoyable for the supporters, and when their dream comes true, it feels like a personal victory. It’s much more engaging than just watching a TV drama.

And the reason so many people want to support you is because of your personalities, I bet.

 

What challenges did you face before actually opening the café?

 

 

 

Scott: I take care of the paperwork and accounting, but dealing with Japanese documents, which isn't easy, actually is really tough!

 

Erika: It took a lot of time and effort to process the documents and everything, like having to visit the tax office many times.

 

Scott: But strangely enough, without even saying anything, we naturally divided our responsibilities, and it’s all balanced out. I’m in charge of the paperwork and being the chef, while Erika takes care of the photography, design, and social media. It just fell into place like that.

 

Erika: Having a former accountant as a partner is a real help. Of course, I leave the kitchen to Scott. It feels like our differences are truly being utilised.

 

Actually we had the hardest time during the POP-UP days, but now that we’ve finished all the renovations before opening the café, we can finally relax in our own space.

 

ー When I visited FOLK SAKA, I was struck by two men, who were maybe regular customers, spreading out a card game all over their table with a large blue play mat. 😳 One was a native English speaker, and the other was likely a Japanese man who spoke English quite well. They were engrossed in their game in a corner of the café, showing no signs of wrapping up, with an additional ten or so types of cards in a big box beside them. It was clear they were in it for the long haul! 😆

 

 

They looked so relaxed, almost as if they were visiting a relative’s home, which left a striking impression on me. I felt that FOLK SAKA has a vibe reminiscent of East London... like a creative neighbourhood abroad.

 

Erika & Scott: Ah! Maybe that's him. One of them actually come all the way from outside the prefecture by train.

 

—Wow, that shows how much they favour you! It really feels like visiting a relative's home. FOLK SAKA must be such a comforting place for them.

It perfectly matches FOLK SAKA's concept of being welcoming and a bit nostalgic for everyone, regardless of their nationality or background.

 

 

 

Every table has this note telling about their story with seasonal flowers and herbs.

 

ー What kind of space do you hope FOLK SAKA will become? 

 

Scott: These regular customers are a great example — we want to welcome people from all different backgrounds and nationalities, creating a warm space where everyone can relax.

 

Erika: Exactly. And with our menu, full of seasonal and local ingredients, we want people to feel healthier and more relaxed, in both body and soul.

 

FOLK SAKA, created by Erika and Scott, feels calm and inviting, full of love, just like their own partnership. Having taken 4 years to establish their independence, they impress with their grounded vibe, developed steadily and thoughtfully.

 

The carefully crafted FOLK SAKA menu is filled with special touches and a passion to bring joy to as many people from various backgrounds as possible.

 

FOLK SAKA, a place born naturally from their encounter across borders, is full of their shared happiness. If you are around Osaka, drop by and experience the space filled with feel-good :)

 

FOLK 茶菓 Cafe + Bakery（FOLK SAKA）

Instagram @folksaka

Fukushima 1-6-29, Fukushima-ku, Osaka

Open hours: Fri - Sun 10:00-19:00 / Mon & Tue 10:00-18:00
Closed: Wed & Thu

 

Stories by Erika & Scott Watson

Interviewer & Editor: Natsuko

 

 

 

 

Translated with the collab of Chat GPT & Google translate🤖🤝