Rediscovering the Same Warmth and New Charms After 10 Years
Published: October 15, 2026
※For this article, we conducted a follow-up interview and will focus on new initiatives and changes that have taken place since our previous coverage.
※Prices are subject to change from those in effect at the time of the interview. Please contact the store directly for the latest information.
Handmade Products That Carry the Thoughts of Their Makers — “Tezukuri Shop Rukuru”
Located in a corner of Koto City Hall, Tezukuri Shop Rukuru is filled with a wide variety of handmade products, including baked goods, chiffon cakes, miscellaneous goods, and embroidered items.
At first glance, it may look like a small local shop.
But this shop brings together products made at day service facilities for people with disabilities throughout Koto City. Each item reflects the creativity, care, and dedication of the people who make them, along with their wish to share their products with as many people as possible.
I visited the shop again for the first time in about 10 years, having last visited in 2016.
Returning after all these years, I found the same warm atmosphere I remembered, along with an even wider selection of products and new things to discover.
July 7, 2009: A “Place of Connection” Born on Tanabata
Located on the second floor of Koto City Hall, Tezukuri Shop Rukuru opened on July 7, 2009. It began as a place where independently produced goods made at
day service facilities for people with disabilitiesin Koto City could be sold and introduced to a wider audience.
The name “Rukuru” combines “Root” and “Circle.” It expresses the desire to foster connections among day service facilities for people with disabilities and strengthen ties with the local community.
The fact that the shop opened on Tanabata, the traditional Japanese Star Festival, also made the day a fitting beginning for a place built around the idea of connection.
“Each facility was already making its own products, but we thought it would be good to have a place where we could bring them together and sell them.”
Originally, each facility sold its own products separately. The idea of bringing them together in one place was created so that more people could discover and enjoy what they make.
Today, 9 corporations and 27 organizations participate in the project. The shop carries a diverse selection of foods, baked goods, bread, miscellaneous goods, accessories, and more, each reflecting the unique character of the participating facilities.
Now in its 17th year, the shop continues to expand its circle of connections and remains an important place that brings the local community and social welfare together.
▲ A sign displayed at the entrance of Tezukuri Shop Rukuru explaining the origin of its name and the philosophy behind the participating facilities.
Quality Products That Challenge the Image of “Products from Welfare Facilities”
One of the most important things at Tezukuri Shop Rukuru is not simply making products, but creating products that people will genuinely want to choose and buy.
That is why the makers pay close attention to everything from ingredients and flavor to design.
One example is the shop’s popular chiffon cake. Made at Daisan Asunaro Sagyo-sho in Minamisuna, the cake is made with soy milk.
I was particularly surprised to learn how carefully the soy milk is selected.
“We use different soy milk for the chiffon cake than we do for tofu.”
Ingredients are selected according to each product, reflecting the makers’ efforts to create something as delicious as possible.
The chiffon cakes come in several flavors, and some customers apparently look forward to seeing which varieties are available on the day they visit.
Another popular item is the soy milk soft-serve ice cream.
As the name suggests, it is made with soy milk, offering another example of the attention paid to ingredients.
The hope that people will try these products first and discover their appeal for themselves lies at the heart of the shop’s approach to making them.
▲Soy milk chiffon cake. Its soft, fluffy texture is one of its highlights. In addition to plain, several flavors are available.
▲Soy milk soft-serve ice cream. Being able to enjoy soft-serve ice cream inside Koto City Hall is one of the unexpected charms of Tezukuri Shop Rukuru.
Unique Products You Can’t Help but Reach For
The shop is filled with a wide variety of products, including baked goods, bread, puddings, embroidered dishcloths and handkerchiefs, accessories, and more.
Among them, the embroidered dishcloths and handkerchiefs immediately caught my eye.
“They’re so cute that it almost seems like a waste to use them as dishcloths.”
I found myself saying this without thinking. Each item is carefully made and beautifully designed, with a warmth that makes you want to use them every day—or even give them as gifts.
The shop also sells original products such as T-shirts designed by a picture-book artist.
Each facility plans and makes its own products, and seasonal items, such as special Christmas products, are also introduced throughout the year. Because the selection changes depending on the season and timing, discovering something new each time you visit is another unique charm of Tezukuri Shop Rukuru.
Behind the creation of these products is the Rukuru Management Committee, which meets every month.
When a participating facility proposes a new product, the committee discusses matters such as pricing and sales methods and helps turn those ideas into actual products.
Rather than simply displaying products for sale, the participating facilities work together to think about questions such as, “How can we make more people want to pick this up?” They continue to experiment and take on new challenges.
That is why each visit brings a new discovery—and another product you may find yourself reaching for.
▲Embroidered dishcloths and handkerchiefs. Each features different embroidery, giving every piece its own unique character.
▲A selection of products displayed in the shop. From food to miscellaneous goods, there is plenty to choose from, making it fun to search for a favorite item. Some popular products can sell out quickly.
New Ways to Enjoy Products Through Conversations with Customers
At Tezukuri Shop Rukuru, the interaction between the people selling the products and the people buying them is also an important part of the experience.
Take the tomato-and-basil granola, for example.
One customer once shared an idea with the staff:
“It’s delicious when you add it to pasta.”
New ways of enjoying a product can emerge not only from the people who make it, but also from the ideas of the people who buy it.
There is a warm, community-oriented exchange here that you might expect from a local shop.
▲Granola. The plain flavor is perfect with breakfast cereal, while the tomato-and-basil flavor can be added to pasta for a different way to enjoy it.
▲A variety of products, including granola, chiffon cake, imokenpi sweet potato snacks, cocoa cookies, rice-flour galettes, and hand-baked rice crackers. Each reflects the creativity and care of its maker.
OriHime: A New Way of Working Through Remote-Controlled Technology
One of the things that surprised me most during my visit was OriHime, a remote-controlled robot working inside the shop.
The robot is part of an initiative that provides employment opportunities for people with severe disabilities and others who have difficulty going out or commuting to work.
OriHime is equipped with a camera, microphone, and speaker. Its users, known as pilots, can operate the robot remotely from home or another location while viewing what is happening inside the shop in real time. They can talk with customers, introduce products, and work as actual shop staff.
When I was shown how it works, I watched the robot turn its face, nod, and move its arms. It was almost as if a staff member were standing right in front of me.
The natural interaction was impressive, despite taking place through a screen.
OriHime also has its own original outfit. The outfit is designed so that the robot’s arms can move easily, showing the thought that went into even the smallest details.
Rather than simply adopting the latest technology, this initiative reflects the shop’s belief in creating an environment where each person can work in a way that suits them.
▲OriHime. The robot allows its remote operator to see what is happening inside the shop while talking with customers and providing assistance.
▲During this interview, Ms. Suika operated OriHime for us. She demonstrated various movements, including turning the robot’s face and moving its arms, and also introduced products and spoke with us. It was a warm and engaging interaction that felt remarkably natural despite being conducted remotely.
Sharing the Work and Appeal of Disability Welfare Through Products
Today, one of the things Tezukuri Shop Rukuru is focusing on is how to communicate the appeal of its products.
“It’s not enough just to make good products. We’re thinking about how we can promote them and let more people know about them.”
When products sell, it can also give confidence to the people who work at the facilities that make them.
The establishment of Tezukuri Shop Rukuru has also created opportunities for the participating facilities to exchange information and ideas.
By sharing the skills and ideas that each facility possesses, they can also develop new products together.
This long-running initiative continues to take new forms while remaining rooted in the local community.
“We’d be happy if people could start by trying the food and feel free to visit. We hope that once they discover the products, they’ll also become interested in the people who make them.”
One product can lead to a new discovery.
The next time you visit Koto City Hall—or even if you are simply in the area—why not stop by and see what you can find?
▲Ms. Hara (right) and Ms. Matsui (left), who were working at the shop on the day of the interview.
▲The glass sign for Tezukuri Shop Rukuru catches the attention of people visiting Koto City Hall.
After the Interview
What impressed me most during this visit was how much thought and care went into the products—far more than I had expected.
When we see products made at day service facilities for people with disabilities, it is easy to view them primarily from the perspective of “support.”
But when I actually picked up the products, I found thoughtful details everywhere—from the choice of ingredients and design to considerations for the people who would use them.
What stayed with me most were the T-shirts that made me want to buy one and the charming embroidered items.
“I want to buy it because it’s beautiful.”
That is the simple, natural appeal these products have.
As I looked at the products, I also found myself wondering, “I wonder which facility made this?” A product can become the starting point for discovering the people and facilities behind it.
I think that kind of encounter is another one of the shop’s greatest charms.
The OriHime initiative also made me think about new possibilities for what it means to work.
Tezukuri Shop Rukuru is more than a place where products are sold. It is a place that connects people and creates opportunities for new challenges.
The spirit that has guided the shop for many years remains unchanged, while it continues to bring new discoveries and new charms to the local community.
▲The embroidered dishcloth and handkerchief I couldn’t resist buying. They were so cute that I almost felt it was too good to use them.
▲A “Design T-shirt” created by a picture-book artist. The short-sleeved version is popular, so I chose the long-sleeved one. The rhinoceros illustration makes this piece particularly memorable.
※Information is based on July 2026. Prices, operating hours, and other details may change. Please verify with the store directly.
※All amounts mentioned in the article are inclusive of taxes.
