Hirosaki Chinese Restaurant “Iimura Hanten” (Nakano 1) will close on December 17th.

Founded in 1949 (Showa 24) and celebrating its 65th year this year, the restaurant is popular among locals, and regular customers are craving it every day. The store manager, Masayuki Iimura, is now 64 years old. He moved to Tokyo at the age of 15 and studied at a Chinese restaurant while attending a high school in Tokyo. He returned home when his father became sick, and succeeded at the age of 21 as the third generation of the same restaurant that his grandmother started.

“For my 43 years, I met good customers for 43 years,” said Iimura. The store is surrounded by universities and high schools, and students often go there. It is said that some graduates of Hirosaki University come from outside the prefecture on a day trip when they hear that the store is closed. Yuka Kobayashi, who visited Hirosaki on a day trip from Yokohama, said that he attended once a week while attending the university. “When I was depressed during job hunting, I was thankful to Mr. Iimura,” he recalls.

Mr. Iimura says he started thinking about closing the store earlier this year, and he posted a notice on the inside of the store about the closing of the store from October this year. The information spread instantly, and there was also a keen voice inquiring over the phone, "Why do you want to stop?" I also got interviews from TV stations. "It's a nationwide internet program, but it doesn't appear in Aomori," he laughs.

“The reason for closing the store was not that I was feeling sick,” said Iimura. "I don't want to continue until my body is overwhelmed, but I want to keep it in good condition," he said. From the 18th to the 3rd, he plans to hold a Gyoza party inviting familiar guests, and has already applied for more than 150 people.

The menu does not change until the store closes, and the store continues. Grilled beef garlic (670 yen), pork shoulder roasted ginger (700 yen), minced pork (720 yen), fried rice (620 yen), katsudon (720 yen). “I just have a feeling of gratitude,” says Iimura. "I want to travel and climb mountains as a hobby after closing the store," he smiles.

Business hours are from 11:00 to 14:00 and from 17:00 to 20:00. Closed on Sundays and Mondays.