DEK Aoyama Restaurant

Opened in February 2023 at the Glassarea Aoyama commercial complex near Omotesando Station in Tokyo, DEK Aoyama is a restaurant operated by Funasho, Inc., a company engaged in the wholesale distribution of fresh produce at fruit and vegetable markets. The restaurant is very popular for its abundant use of carefully selected fresh vegetables and fruit, allowing guests to fully enjoy seasonal produce.

Recently, Yamaha VXC4W and VXC2FW ceiling speakers and a VXS10SW subwoofer were introduced as part of the restaurant's sound system. We spoke with Kenichi Ishiyama from Funasho, Inc , which oversees DEK Aoyama, as well as Yamato Shibasaki and Reiji Takahashi from Mood Media Japan Inc, the company responsible for the design, installation and music curation of the restaurant’s sound system, to learn more about the reasons behind the installation and the background music concept.

What is the concept at the DEK Aoyama restaurant?

Mr. Ishiyama: “DEK Aoyama is the first restaurant launched by Funasho, Inc, a company engaged in the wholesale distribution of vegetables and fruit at Ota Market, which celebrated its 100thanniversary in 2024.

“At DEK Aoyama, our goal is to propose a lifestyle where vegetables and fruit are an abundant and familiar part of daily life. Our strength lies in our expert ability to distinguish truly delicious vegetables and fruit from the vast selection each day at Ota Market, which is said to be the largest in Asia. Every morning we carefully source seasonal produce directly from the market, skilfully transforming them into delicious dishes for our customers to enjoy.”

You can feel the attention to detail in the restaurant’s interior design.

Mr. Ishiyama: “The DEK in DEK Aoyama comes from the word deck, which is inspired by the ship in Funasho, Inc's corporate logo. Reflecting this theme, we have extensively used natural wood on both the first and second floors to resemble a ship's deck.

The interior design follows this concept - the first floor has a bright, open atmosphere, like being on the ship's deck, creating a lively and welcoming space. The second floor features a chic, woody design with round ‘porthole’ windows, evoking the feel of a passenger ship's interior to offer a calm and relaxing ambiance.

“The first floor, called DEK KITCHEN, has a casual and cheerful atmosphere where guests can enjoy sweets and light meals. Meanwhile the second floor, DEK DINING, is designed to resemble a mahogany ship’s cabin, providing a refined setting. It is equipped with a wine cellar and primarily offers multi-course meals for a more sophisticated dining experience.”

DEK Aoyama seems to have put great emphasis on sound quality and the selection of background music.

Mr. Ishiyama: “Interior design, cuisine, and service are essential elements in creating a great restaurant, but I believe music is just as important.

“In my previous job, I worked for a company that operated cafes and restaurants, and I saw firsthand how music played a significant role in shaping the atmosphere. At that time, Mood Media Japan Inc carefully selected background music to match each store's concept and designed the sound system accordingly. When we decided to open DEK Aoyama, I knew right away that I wanted to work with them again, which is why I reached out to them for this project.”

What sound concept did Mood Media Inc Japan have for this project?

Mr. Shibasaki: “If we approached the music design with a simple, conventional mindset -associating fresh produce with a natural or fresh sound - it might end up feeling like just another organic café. Instead, we wanted to take it a step further by reflecting DEK Aoyama's unique identity as a speciality restaurant where people can experience the best of Japan’s fresh produce. Our goal was to capture Funasho, Inc's deep understanding and dedication to fresh produce in the music selection.

“Rather than simply curating pleasant and easy listening tracks, we intentionally incorporated edgier elements. For example, we included songs with innovative chord progressions, subtle rhythmic irregularities and distinctive grooves - music that is acoustic yet cutting-edge in its approach. By doing so, we aimed to create a space that would be recognized and embraced as a high-quality concept store in Aoyama.”

Mr. Takahashi: “From the very beginning, Shibasaki visited restaurants with similar business models to observe what kind of sounds and music were being used. Based on this research, he carefully considered what sound concept would be most suitable for DEK Aoyama.

“This meticulous approach - using sound to differentiate each establishment from others and create a unique customer experience that attracts loyal fans - is one of our greatest strengths.”

Is the music selection different on first and second floors, and does it change depending on the time of day?

Mr. Shibasaki: “While maintaining the core concept of DEK Aoyama, which conveys the deliciousness and appeal of fresh produce, we have also reflected the unique characteristics of each floor by differentiating the music. For example, on the DEK DINING second floor, where full-course meals are served throughout the day, we always use elegant and calming background music, to ensure a consistent and refined atmosphere.

“In contrast, on the DEK KITCHEN first floor, the music is slightly more casual. We have created three different patterns of music based on the time of day - morning, midday to early evening, and night - to match the changing ambience.”

Could you tell us the reason for choosing the Yamaha VXC4W and VXC2FW ceiling speakers, plus the VXS10SW subwoofer?

Mr. Shibasaki: “Inspired by the brand vision of conveying the deliciousness of fresh produce, we wanted to create a natural-sounding system, which prioritises the authenticity of the original audio. With this in mind, we decided to use Yamaha speakers for their ability to reproduce pure, high-quality sound.

“Initially, we planned to use only VXC4 ceiling speakers. However, Funasho, Inc strongly supported the idea of prioritising quality, stating that they wanted to invest in the best sound. Sowe added the VXS10SW subwoofer, which allowed us to create a rich and well-balanced sound, delivering clear tones from low through to high frequencies and perfect for background music. We also installed VXC2FW ceiling speakers in the restrooms.”

Why did you choose ceiling instead of surface-mount speakers?

Mr. Takahashi: “The decision was largely based on design considerations. We chose the VXC4W ceiling speakers to minimise any disruption to the interior aesthetic.

“To blend the speakers seamlessly into the design, we painted them to match their surroundings. Those installed in wooden ceiling sections were painted in a wood tone, those on plaster-finished areas were matched to the same shade of grey and the colour of those in white ceiling sections was adjusted to match the ceiling material.

“Additionally, the VXS10SW subwoofer was installed behind the ceiling, keeping it completely hidden from view while allowing the entire ceiling to resonate with the sound.”

Now that the restaurant is complete, what are your thoughts on the sound quality?

Mr Ishiyama: “The sound is clear and it has a very natural tone. It is delivered at a comfortable volume and quality without interfering with our customers' conversations, exactly as we intended. I’m truly grateful to the Mood Media Japan Inc team for making this possible.

“Also, although it's not visible, I believe the subwoofer plays a significant role. Especially for jazz, the wood bass resonates softly, almost like a live performance, creating a wonderfully rich and immersive sound.

What kind of operation are you aiming for in the future?

Mr Ishiyama: “Our first goal is to delight as many customers as possible with our two existing concepts; the casual DEK KITCHEN on the first floor and DEK DINING on the second floor. Moving forward, while staying true to our core concept of providing delicious vegetables and fruit, we would like to expand into different types of establishments, such as a shop specializing in sweets.

“Through these stores, we hope more people will discover the true taste of high-quality vegetables, fruit and be inspired to incorporate more fresh produce into their daily lives. We invite everyone to experience the flavours of delicious vegetables and fruit here in Aoyama!”