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Waseda University The Waseda International House of Literature (Haruki Murakami Library) Orange Cat Store Manager
Natsuho Komatsuzaki, 2nd year student School of Culture, Media and Society 

At the counter of the cafe "Orange Cat" The Waseda International House of Literature Waseda Campus. Hot drinks are served in original Orange Cat mugs.

While studying on campus, students participate in activities that contribute to improving the university's value and work. We will introduce the students and their profiles to find out what kind of students are involved in thisStudent Involvement/Student Jobsproject. We will introduce the students and their profiles to find out what kind of students are involved in this project. The Orange Catat Waseda University The Waseda International House of Literature (Haruki Murakami Library) is where Natsuho Komatsuzaki, a second-year student in School of Culture, Media and Society, works as the manager of the shop "Orange Cat Cafe", and in this article we will introduce her daily life at the cafe.

Q. How did you get started?

I received a flyer for a part-time job at Orange Cat during Entrance Ceremony and decided to apply. When I was in high school, I went to The Waseda International House of Literature and Orange Cat during an open campus event and thought, "What a wonderful place."

The entrance to Orange Cat (left), and the interior (right)

Q. What kind of activities do you do?

Orange Cat is a student-run cafe, where not only cooking and customer service, but also human resources, accounting, planning and management, product development, public relations, hygiene management, etc. are all handled by student staff in multiple departments. As all staff members are Waseda University students, even though they are part-time staff, the atmosphere is warm and comfortable, like a student club.

As the store manager, I manage each department, and also act as the liaison between the university and external parties as a member of the management team, and am in charge of ordering and inventory management. Another important role as the store manager is to analyze the store's situation based on the annual budget and financial statements and decide on policies. Although I only work a few shifts a week, I do business management work almost every day.

Q. Please tell us what you felt through the activities.

Serving customers at the cash register. Introducing the recommended menu and hand-dripped coffee.

There are three main things I learned. The first is that I have gained a business perspective. Since I became involved in management, I have been able to make decisions that are always based on evidence while keeping in mind the movement of numbers. I am aware that any management decision comes with responsibility, and I actively practice this in my daily work.

The second thing is the importance of human connections. Because I work with many people, I've learned the importance of building trusting relationships with a little consideration and ingenuity.

And the third reason is that Waseda University is a special place loved by so many people. When I talk to the many alumni who visit our store and the tourists who come from far away, I can feel their affection for Waseda and their various admirations for it. I am grateful every day for being able to have such a special experience in such a special place.

Q. How do you manage to balance multiple things, such as your studies, student job, and student club activities?

I make good use of my commute time. Since I spend a lot of time on the train, I watch on-demand classes, respond to emails as a store manager, contact departments, and do other community work while I'm on the move.

I value the ability to make my own choices, and when I took over as manager in my second year, I decided to limit my involvement with student club and student organizations so that I could focus on Orange Cat. Orange Cat is my most important place and my daily joy, so when I'm tired, whether at work or on my day off, I go to Orange Cat to feel energized.

Q. Please tell us about your future aspirations and challenges regarding your activities.

I want to continue protecting Orange Cat in the future. I will do my best to provide all visitors with wonderful encounters and a relaxing environment, so that Orange Cat can continue to be a comfortable space where diverse cultures and arts come together.

I also hope that the people who work with me at Orange Cat will be able to use the skills and experience they gain here to help them grow. Nothing would make me happier than if their experience at Orange Cat had a positive impact on their future career choices or became a strength in various aspects of their lives.

Left: Through daily conversations with customers, we aim to realize The Waseda International House of Literature 's concept of "Let's open up stories and speak our hearts."
Right: A hand-drip training session with staff. The author is second from the left

As the store manager, I want to create an environment where each employee can maximize their potential and take on new challenges, while at the same time making Orange Cat a warm and secure place to be. In the future, I also want to think of ways to give back some of our profits to our regular customers and to the university.

How I spend my week when classes are in session

A week's schedule. I belong to the Waseda University Announcement Study Group (an officially recognized student club), and I am also part of an NPO (student group) that organizes overseas internships and international exchange events.