Kesennuma was one of the cities hardest hit by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami. As Kesennuma rebuilds, the city’s port is still the site of shifting roads and constant scaffolding. K-port was one of the first businesses to open here after the tsunami, and is now one of the first sights for a tourist stepping off the ferry or a fisherman coming to port. Born from his discussions with locals and established in 2013, this cozy, bungalow-style cafe is actor Ken Watanabe’s contribution to the city’s recovery, and has become one of the hottest spots in the city.

While some locals have stories of chance encounters with the actor while at the cafe, Watanabe’s connection can still be felt even in the absence of a real-life celebrity sighting. The actor faxes the cafe handwritten messages almost every day, which are proudly displayed at the front of the cafe. In those messages, he comments on local events like the Port Festival and offers encouraging words for this community still rebuilding.

The cafe offers a selection of drinks, desserts, and pizzas accented with seasonal ingredients local to Kesennuma. Some dishes are made in collaboration with shops in the vicinity, like the makanai-don, chef’s-choice seafood served over a bowl of rice. The fish comes fresh from the shop just next door, so customers can enjoy the flavors of the ocean while watching the ships come in to port.