LUCAS (MOUNGHO JANG) / TOTOYA PIIKOI
G1 Lucas(MoungHo Jang) joined Totoya in February, after first visiting Kaimuki as a guest and enjoying its food and atmosphere. At Piikoi, he has found joy in both cooking and serving, and has grown from keeping up with his own tasks to helping the people around him.
AIDEN STETSON / TOTOYA KAIMUKI
At Totoya Kaimuki, G1 Aiden Stetson enjoys working with friends, helping across positions, and becoming more confident in his own decisions.
FROM TAC / OCTOBER 2026
The people working in our restaurants shape the experience, one interaction at a time.
SAKE WORKSHOP / LALAAt LaLa’s workshop with Victor, five sake revealed the histories, local legends, and brewing ideas behind their flavors—and new stories to share with our guests.
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NEW STORE / LALA
On September 23, 2026, Izakaya LaLa opened its doors. Its concept is a comfortable, fun place filled with love. Thank you to everyone who helped prepare the restaurant and everyone supporting its new beginning.
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PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT“Would I go back and pay to eat it again?” We talk with Ike-san(Hayato Ikeda) about the questions behind product development, the beginnings of LaLa, and what comes next for Funergy.
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GRADE UPCongratulations to Luke at ToriTon on his promotion from G1 to G2! We look forward to his next chapter and wish him continued growth in his new grade.
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Everyday habits for safe handling of eggs and meat, handwashing, and clean tools.
A look at the 2026 standard deduction and the tax brackets introduced in 2025.
AFTERWORD / OCTOBER 2026
A spotlight for everyone.
Times is just getting started, and I’m grateful that so many of you are already reading it. In this editor’s note, I’d like to share some thoughts from putting each issue together and look back on the month.
As I visited our stores for interviews, I wondered if some of you might be thinking, “Why was this person chosen?” These interviews aren’t about picking the best performers. My hope is to put the spotlight on everyone eventually.
As we gradually add more stores, it’s getting harder to know everyone who works across Funergy. I hope you’ll enjoy these stories simply as a chance to think, “So that’s who works at that store!”
I’d love to write about each store’s gatherings, too, but some of those stories are better kept within the team... so I’ll leave them out for now.
Timesは始まったばかりですが、たくさんの方に読んでいただき、ありがとうございます。この編集後記では、記事を作りながら感じたことや、振り返ってどんな1か月だったかをお話ししていこうと思います。
インタビューで各店を回るなかで、「なぜこの人がインタビューを受けているんだろう？」と感じるスタッフもいるのかな、と思いました。誰かが特別に優れているから選んでいるわけではありません。私としては、いつか全員にスポットライトを当てたいと思っています。
店舗数も徐々に増え、ほかのお店でどんな人が働いているのか、見えづらくなってきました。「このお店には、こんなスタッフがいるんだな」。そんな気軽な気持ちで読んでもらえたら嬉しいです。
本当は各店のギャザリングの様子なども記事にしたいのですが、全体にはお届けできない話もあるので、今のところは自粛しておきます。
September brought new teammates with LaLa’s opening, as well as farewells with the closing of the Waikiki food trucks. Amid all the busyness, it was a month of mixed emotions. No matter how many times I experience a store closing, it always feels sad.
Once we secure a new location for Waikiki, we plan to reach out again to the team members who worked there.
We add new articles to Times throughout the month, so please check in regularly. I’ll keep learning so I can make it something you’ll look forward to reading.
A special thank-you to Ike-san(Hayato Ikeda) for his help with LaLa’s launch and for taking the time to be interviewed for this issue.
Thank you, everyone, for all your hard work in September. Let’s make October another good month together.
9月はLaLaのオープンで新しい仲間が増えた一方、Waikikiのトラックのクローズもあり、忙しさのなかにいろいろな感情がある月でした。お店のクローズは、何度経験しても寂しいものです。
Waikikiは移転先が確保でき次第、働いていたメンバーにも、あらためて声を掛ける予定です。
Timesは月の途中にも追加記事を掲載しているので、定期的にチェックしてみてください。もっと読みたくなる記事を作れるよう、私も勉強していきます。
今回、LaLaの立ち上げを支え、インタビューにも答えてくださったIke-san(Hayato Ikeda)にも感謝しています。
みなさん、9月もありがとうございました。10月も、また良い月にしていきましょう。よろしくお願いします。
Thank you to everyone featured in this issue.
