"Komorebino" is a coined term derived from the Japanese word komorebi (木漏れ日), which means sunlight filtering through the leaves and branches of trees. In Japan, where forests cover about two-thirds of the land, the forest has always been a part of everyday life. The term komorebi conveys a peaceful, calm, and soft impression, evoking a sense of tranquility.

The no (ノ) in komorebino functions like the English "of." So, komorebino natural wine bar can be literally translated as "natural wine bar of komorebi." The "bino" part is inspired by the Italian word vino, meaning "wine." Combining komorebi with bino results in the unique term komorebino, which reflects the serene atmosphere of sunlight in the forest and the concept of natural wine.

The logo on the shop’s sign was drawn by hand, crafted by the owner when the business first opened in 2017. The last "o" in the word represented a full moon. It seemed as though the soft light of the moon filtered through the branches, quietly embracing the name of the shop, like a secret shared between the trees and the night.

In 2020, the world was swallowed up by the pandemic. In Japan, under government orders, businesses were forced to close, and the shop was left in a long, uncertain hiatus until March of 2023. The heavy door remained shut, and there was nothing to do but wait for time to pass. Just wait. Eventually, the world began to open up again, little by little. Travelers began to return to Japan, and with them, the shop slowly started to regain its former rhythm. But just as things seemed to be returning to normal, Yamamoto, the sommelier, was diagnosed with cancer. Strangely enough, it was also the day his second child was born. Life, in its way, has a peculiar tendency to balance things out like this, like a strange equation. The shop closed again. But it was not the end. People came together, offering their help despite their own busy lives. Others, from far corners of the world, waited—quietly, persistently—for Yamamoto’s return.

To lift his spirits, the staff created a new logo. The "N" stood for natural, the "W" for wine, and the letters of komorebino formed a soft curve, like the shape of a mouth. In the center, the full moon—the shop’s symbol—smiled gently, as if it knew everything would be all right in the end.

After a year of chemotherapy, Yamamoto made a miraculous recovery. And now, he was back behind the counter. But there was one thing that troubled him. His hair had fallen out. The staff were simply relieved and overjoyed that he was alive, but to him, the loss of his hair felt like a mark, a visible reminder of his struggle. So, the staff gave him a hat, with a simple message: ko”more “bino than expected.(more than expected) It was a quiet message, one layered with meaning. The results of his treatment had exceeded expectations, just as the shop always aimed to exceed the expectations of its customers. And, perhaps more importantly, it was a reminder that we live in a world that continually surprises us, a world that defies imagination.

Yamamoto took the hat in his hands, staring at it for a long moment. Then, slowly, he placed it on his head. The shop reopened. The moon remained, as it always had—silent, steadfast, unchanged.

(inspired by Haruki Murakami’s characteristic style on chat GPT)