Unwind in the hustle and bustle of the city with KURA ONE® – Small, Compact, Cute – that's the KURA ONE® way! In the hustle and bustle of city life, time flows at a rapid pace, and the focus of our lives tends to revolve around work. Even in the midst of busyness, tackling assigned tasks with sincerity and making a difference for someone is considered sufficient, a mark of adulthood. However, realizing that life shouldn't be all about work, adults cherish their personal time to enjoy life. We invited adults navigating these daily responsibilities to try KURA ONE®, providing them with an opportunity to savor moments of relaxation tailored to their preferences.

U is a nail artist thriving in Tokyo. Having worked in a nail salon since her twenties, she saved up funds and ventured into independence 12 years ago. Currently, she manages her own nail salon as a sole proprietor. Despite navigating the rapidly changing world of nail art, she effortlessly laughs off any notion of hardship in her work.

"Since I'm doing what I love, it doesn't feel challenging at all. Seeing my customers' smiles genuinely makes me happy. I might seem like a diligent student (laughs). Right after starting my own business, I worked part-time at other salons because I had few customers. It was physically demanding, but I was so engrossed in it that I forgot about the difficulties. Now, being too busy is a luxurious problem, I guess."

U conducts 4 to 5 treatments every day, six days a week. Amidst her hectic schedule, unwinding with friends or her live-in partner over a drink at the end of the day is a precious moment for U.

"I enjoy drinks both at the shop and at home, but my regular choice is a lemon sour. Actually, being from Tohoku, I have a strong liking for sake, and I tend to drink too much of it (laughs). So, I've decided to limit sake consumption to the day before my day off."

As a sake enthusiast, U tries KURA ONE® for her evening drink. Drinking sake from a can is a new experience for her.

"The design of each can and the compact size are so cute! Sake, with its bottle sizes, packaging, and appearance, can sometimes feel intimidating to buy, but with cute cans, there's less resistance. Sake allows you to enjoy the 'difference in taste' among different brands. KURA ONE's size makes it easy to compare. This might be the starting point for people to fall in love with sake.

Also, as someone who loves sake, when drinking at home, a 1.8-liter bottle is heavy, and if it's a 720 ml bottle, I end up thinking, 'Well, I've already opened it,' and unintentionally drink too much, so both options have issues (laughs). With KURA ONE, I can decide to stick to one bottle based on my condition or go for two without worrying about excessive drinking (laughs)."

Needle shop NoRoof

https://noroof.jp/

Noah Dogenzaka 1312, 2-15-1 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

11:00-23:00 (last admission at 21:00)

Y, who works for a company in the medical field, has built a career in the sales department and currently works in the marketing department. In her role, she focuses on creating informational magazines and developing services for hospital patients. Balancing between sales and marketing, dealing with different target audiences, Y strives to make a positive impact on patients, even in the midst of challenges.

"While in sales, our primary target was healthcare professionals, now it's the patients. I think every day about services that can be useful for patients. However, it's quite challenging because the needs vary depending on the patient's age and lifestyle. But when I receive letters of gratitude, it makes all the effort worthwhile."

Working in a job that is indispensable to society and involves people's health, Y lives with her husband. Due to the demanding weekdays, she finds solace in enjoying a drink mostly on weekends, just before her day off.

"When we go out to eat on weekends, I prefer fruity sours. At home, we sometimes buy wine or fruit liquor, but my husband doesn't drink much. Recently, I find myself going for canned chu-hai, which is easy to drink. I also like sake, but I reserve it for special occasions like enjoying it with Japanese food at a restaurant."

Although Y mentions that she rarely drinks sake at home, the vibrant design of KURA ONE has caught her attention.

"The cute colors like pink, white, and orange on the cans make me, someone who doesn't buy much sake, want to pick them up casually. If they were displayed in liquor stores or supermarkets, they would likely catch my eye even from a distance. It's a perfect size for buying just one to enjoy as a weekend treat. Buying a few different ones and choosing based on the mood of the day, like 'Let's go for something sweet today' or 'Let's try a new flavor,' feels like a stylish adult's enjoyment and brings excitement.

Since I don't drink a lot, it's a bit challenging for me to buy bottled sake. But with KURA ONE, as it can be consumed in one go, I'd like to give it a try."

Finally, let's hear from S, who has been working as a beautician in Tokyo for about 20 years. In addition to haircuts, she has engaged in a wide range of beauty services, including bridal esthetics, makeup, and dressing. While supporting the beauty of many people, the only challenging aspect for her is that she absolutely cannot be late for appointments.

"It's genuinely enjoyable to be involved in customers' beauty. The only challenging part, I'd say, is that I must absolutely be on time for my customers' appointments. Train delays are my arch-nemesis (laughs). There are many enjoyable and happy moments, but I distinctly remember being overjoyed when I received feedback saying, 'I now enjoy looking in the mirror.'"

S's passion for beauty is evident in her conversation, conveying a sense of fulfillment in her daily life. She also enjoys drinking alcohol, both at her favorite establishments with friends and at home while watching Korean star videos or her favorite manga.

"I drink beer, wine, and sake regularly. My mother works at a local sake brewery, so I receive freshly pressed sake, which is surprisingly delicious. My preference leans towards junmai styles with the aroma of rice, rather than the crisp ones. In summer, I enjoy dry sake chilled, while in winter, I savor sweet sake warmed. Drinking according to the season adds to the enjoyment."

Influenced by her mother, who works at a sake brewery, S, an avid sake drinker, finds KURA ONE to have a unique charm compared to traditional sake.

"The convenient size for the refrigerator is a blessing. You can't fit many bottles in the fridge, but with KURA ONE, you can store several brands. Also, with bottles that are challenging to finish in one go, you end up storing them for a while, and the taste changes gradually over time. With cans, you can open them just before drinking, ensuring a fresh taste anytime, which is fantastic.

All the brands have cute package designs, likely appealing to women as well. The kanji packaging, in particular, would make a delightful gift for people overseas."