Building our store operations ourselves

How cafe filament, a self-service cafe in Nishikasai, Edogawa City, Tokyo (operated by vivid update Inc.), builds and runs its own systems.

Why we build in-house

filament opened in October 2022, and most of the people on the floor are in their twenties and thirties. We do not have decades of experience to lean on, so we try things, learn from what fails, and look for better ways.

We started with outsourced systems, but they never quite fit how the store actually runs. We did not want to keep saying "that's just how the system works." So even when it is the longer road, we build things ourselves wherever we can. Because we build rather than stitch together external services, what we notice on the floor can be fixed within the same week.

This is the "DIY" value in our management principles. See About us for more.

What we build ourselves

Most of the systems we need to run the store are now developed and operated in-house.

Screens show demo data (the name and amount are placeholders).

Our in-house app went live in April 2026, and over May and June we added smart-lock integration, monthly membership billing and points. Entry through the "e-office" partnership we joined in January 2026 remains available.

In September 2026 we stopped using two external services for entry management and shift scheduling and moved to our own systems, which we expect to cut fixed costs by roughly 150,000 yen a year.

19 hours a day, 10 of them unstaffed

We are open 05:00–24:00, 19 hours a day. Crew are on site from 10:00 to 19:00. For the other 10 hours (05:00–10:00 and 19:00–24:00) the cafe runs as self-service with a smart lock and an app.

Because we open the store without crew present, we feel we owe people an even clearer explanation than a typical shop of what we are thinking and how we operate. Opening hours and staffing are listed in the user guide.

Multilingual support

Edogawa City has the largest foreign resident population of Tokyo's 23 wards, and Nishikasai is a neighborhood with many international residents. Many visitors also come from overseas for travel or business.

How we work with AI

We have rules for using AI in what we produce. We do not use AI-generated images to show the actual store, menu items or equipment, and we do not use AI-generated people. The store manager or deputy manager reviews AI-assisted materials before they are published.

The AI tools we use are Claude Code, Claude Design, Codex, Adobe Firefly and Gemini. Read the full AI Content Policy.

Accessibility

We keep a written policy and check our pages so the site is usable by as many people as possible. See our accessibility policy.

filament in numbers

Visit counts and shares are based on entry-app records (they exclude entries made through the e-office partner and paper sign-in).

Press, site visits and collaboration

For interviews, site visits, case studies or collaboration, please write to the address below. The store manager, Yosuke Enoki, will reply. Using "Inquiry about filament DX initiatives" as the subject line helps us route your message.

selfcafe.filament@gmail.com
If it is urgent, call 03-6808-5511 between 10:00 and 19:00.