News from the Waseda Neighbourhood: Master Masao Kitagami of the Cutlet and Beef Bowl Restaurant “San-Pin”

The master of San-Pin, Mr. Kitagami always welcomes us with a smile.

“Aka-dama Mix” is a huge meal, but costs just 990 yen.

The label of Waseda Beer is one of Mr. Kitagami's art works; he is good at drawing.

“San-Pin Tea,” which is sold only in Okinawa, was found by a student. Now you can buy it at “San-Pin,” too!

“San-Pin” is located in front of the School of Education. As you can imagine from the name “San-Pin,” they serve a variety of foods made from three basic ingredients--beef bowl, cutlet, and curry. This restaurant is one of the most representative "Wase-Meshi" (good food around Waseda) shops, and it has been cherished by Waseda students for a long time.

When you go through the shop curtain, there are messages from Waseda alumni all over the wall. The best place to eat is at the counter, where you will hear the appetizing sound of cutting and frying cutlets. The specialty of this restaurant is “Aka-dama (Red Bowl) Mix,” which is loved by big eaters because it weighs 1.1 kg! It is extravagant food--a cutlet, curry, beef, and finally an egg rest on top of an extra-large portion of rice. Master Masao Kitagami says delightedly “I've heard that it's known as one of the ‘Big Three in Waseda Westgate’ along with ‘Niku-Don (Meat Bowl)’ of Life (already featured in this paper) and ‘Oni-Koroshi Ten-Don (Demon-Killing Tempura Bowl)’ of Kokoro.” Of course there are also some items that are not too heavy, so women students don't have to worry. In fact, you should try them, if you are really a “Wase-Jo (Waseda girl)”!

“San-Pin” was opened by Mr. Kitagami's mother in 1965, and it has been keeping company with hungry Waseda students ever since. “We used to serve only beef bowl, cutlet rice, and curry rice. The ‘Cutlet Beef Bowl’ was created in response to students’ request for beef on top of cutlet rice. Then they said they wanted curry on top of that. That's why now we serve ‘Mix’ for them.” “Aka” is San-Pin's original size (extra-large) that has come to be called so because the bowl he first served it in was red. He says with smile, “Even now they ask me to offer something more extravagant than ‘Aka’.”

Mr. Kitagami, who has been serving as chairman of So-dai Westgate Shopping Street since this year, used to be a salaried worker in a steel company. "To be honest, I was almost torn apart when I thought about succeeding my father. But I guess I love Waseda. And the alumni would be sad if their favorite restaurants disappeared, wouldn't they?" he says. There are still a lot of alumni coming to eat at San-Pin. San-Pin is absolutely necessary for Waseda. We have to be thankful for the fact that such a restaurant is open every day with a friendly smile.

"I feel that students are courteous these days. But sometimes I want them to talk to me more. There used to be students who stayed here just to chat without ordering anything, saying ‘'Please let me stay here because my class was canceled.’ I don't think students have essentially changed, because they still talk to me a lot at community events. You can come here just to enjoy yourself." The rainy season is here. At such a gloomy time of year, why don't you fill your stomach and your heart at "San-Pin"?