The Ainoura district of Sasebo City is the core area of the west side of the city, and is a lively town with a university, public sports facilities, and a large garrison of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force.
Among these, Hino Town has leisure facilities that take advantage of the natural richness of the Kujuku Islands, and there are many roadside shops and residential areas along the prefectural roads, so you can get a feel for everyday life in Sasebo.

The bakery "Fuwari no Pan Labo" is run by husband and wife couple Koji and Kaori Fujinaga. We asked them about how they overcame the COVID-19 pandemic and how they remain a beloved bakery among the people of Sasebo.

Attention to materials

"The eggplants are completely different depending on where they are grown. If you want to make it more like a salad, you can use red eggplants from Kumamoto. But if you use eggplants from Kagoshima, the taste changes."

They are so thorough that even the same type of vegetable is used in their savory breads, with different types being used separately.
Furthermore, because it is difficult to reproduce the bread that represents each country domestically, we use flour and salt imported from Germany, France, etc. We spare no effort to bring out the best in our bread.

"We make our bread using methods that make the most of the characteristics of each country. While we incorporate the catchy breads that are popular these days, we also preserve the good qualities of bread that have been handed down since ancient times. We keep studying, studying, studying so that we don't get left behind by the times," says Koji, who is in charge of production.

Spreading the antenna

The Fujinaga couple don't just check social media, they also visit bread shops outside of the prefecture to keep up with the latest information and trends in bread. They say that the trends in texture and flavor change every year. Because Fuwari no Pan Labo is both their home and shop, they say it's important to be able to separate work and private life in order to keep the shop going.

"On my days off, I go out looking for tasty food. Nagasaki has a history as the Sugar Road, so sweet flavors are popular. It's difficult to strike a balance with what people want... The simple breads that have been loved for a long time are also deep and tasty."

Kaori not only explains the breads displayed in the display case, but also greets each and every customer, asking questions according to their situation, such as, "It was hot, wasn't it? Are you going out after this?" People who visit for the fragrant aroma of bread not only fill their stomachs, but also seem to be filled with a little conversation.

Aiming to be a restaurant that will be loved for many years in Sasebo

Originally, Koji's father ran a bakery in a corner of a supermarket for about 30 years.
When it was time to take over, we wanted to create not only everyday bread, but also bread that was particular about the quality, so we opened a new shop in our current location in Hino Town in 2020.

"There's a lot of news about rising prices and things like that, but I want to keep the quality up and do my best so that the people of Sasebo will think it's delicious."

The warm personality of the Fujinaga couple envelopes the interior of the store in the soft aroma of fresh bread.
Perhaps it is their passion for bread and their strong feelings for the people who visit their store that makes them so popular with the people of Sasebo.

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ふわりのぱんLabo

電話：0956-59-8328　
住所：長崎県佐世保市日野町862-59
アクセス：西肥バス「日野中央」より徒歩3分
SNS：https://www.instagram.com/fuwarinopan/

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