Genelec loudspeakers were recently installed in the OTM Restaurant & Bar, Japan’s first restaurant specialising in microgreens, based on the second floor of Kanazawa Hakomachi, a shopping mall in the city of Kanazawa. With its stylish, industrial interior and focus on health-conscious cuisine, OTM aims to offer a fresh take on dining – enhanced by the audio from ten Genelec 4020C loudspeakers.
Microgreens are young vegetable shoots that have been sprouting for just one to three weeks. Less than 5cm tall, they contain over five times the amount of vitamins and minerals as mature counterparts. At OTM, the home-grown microgreens appear in everything from pasta and sandwiches to ice cream and Basque cheesecake.
The idea to incorporate Genelec sound into the restaurant came from the CEO of the Sabi Corporation (which owns OTM), Mr Yamazaki. While visiting an art gallery in Tokyo, he enjoyed the audio from the Genelec loudspeakers. When planning OTM, he wanted high-quality sound to be part of the design. Previously, acoustics had been an afterthought for the company.
Ultimately, they decided on ten compact 4020C loudspeakers in Genelec’s RAW aluminium finish, strategically positioned throughout the space and connected using Euroblock terminals.
The 4020C belongs to Genelec’s 4000 series of installation loudspeakers and was selected for both its performance and aesthetics. The RAW recycled aluminium finish chosen by OTM is designed to give them an elegant, industrial look that blends with OTM’s interior design. From a functional perspective, Genelec says the 4020C delivers well-balanced sound that enhances the restaurant’s atmosphere without overpowering conversations.
Yuka Miyamoto, PR and marketing manager at Sabi Corporation (which operates OTM), said: “Music plays a huge role in shaping a restaurant’s atmosphere, often influencing a guest’s experience on a subconscious level. That’s why Genelec loudspeakers were chosen to bring OTM’s ambiance to life.
“It was important to find loudspeakers that provide great sound without interfering with the ability to chat comfortably at the table. Genelec’s loudspeakers achieve exactly that. There’s no harshness or distortion, and the bass feels natural and warm.”
The choice of active loudspeakers was also significant for OTM as it removes the need for bulky, external amplifiers and all associated cabling, which greatly simplifies installation. An iPad-based system controls the music selection, sending audio via Bluetooth to a mixer connected to the 4020C speakers. The restaurant’s playlist is curated by Yamazaki himself, carefully chosen to suit different times of the day.
He explained: “Lunchtime is more relaxed, with lots of solo diners and tourists stopping by for tea, so we play peaceful, calming music. In the evening, the atmosphere shifts to a bar-like setting with cool programmed beats and hip-hop. We’re also planning to introduce live DJ sessions to add another layer to the experience. It’s exciting to see how sound can transform a dining experience, and this project has reinforced just how important audio is in a restaurant environment.”
