Brewing Business and Bushido at RSJ’s Samui Samurai Café
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2025/07/26

Brewing Business and Bushido at RSJ’s Samui Samurai Café

During the Humanities portion of Rugby School Japan’s summer camp, campers stepped into the shoes of entrepreneurs – and samurai – as they designed and pitched their very own business: the Samui Samurai Café.

This immersive task challenged pupils to build a fully-fledged business plan from the ground up. Participants worked to define their café’s core aims, design a menu, calculate pricing, and predict potential profit margins. But this was not just an exercise in spreadsheets – it was a deep dive into the fundamental values that underpin great leadership, teamwork, and community.

The challenge was inspired by Hojo Soun, the 15th-century samurai leader best known for writing the 21 Articles, a code of conduct focused on discipline, respect, and social responsibility. Campers were first asked to translate the 21 Articles into a modern set of school rules. Then, using these guiding principles, they reflected on how the same values could shape a successful business.

Could a code of honour improve teamwork? Would a spirit of humility and discipline lead to better service? What role does honesty play in pricing and marketing?

With these questions in mind, campers made strategic decisions around staffing, service etiquette, and customer experience, learning that business success requires more than financial sense; it also demands integrity, clarity of purpose, and a genuine commitment to quality.

From crafting menu items that balanced creativity with cost-efficiency to researching local competitors and proposing marketing campaigns, pupils demonstrated both analytical thinking and entrepreneurial flair.  Pupils were given the freedom to dream up anything from themed uniforms inspired by samurai aesthetics… to building social media strategies or loyalty schemes to attract return customers.

By the end of the project, it was clear that the spirit of the 21 Articles – just like RSJ’s Whole Person Whole Point ethos – is timeless. Whether in the boardroom or the teahouse, values like respect, integrity, kindness and aspiration are critical to success.

Through this camp activity, pupils gained not only practical business knowledge but also a deeper understanding of leadership rooted in character. The Samui Samurai Café may have been hypothetical, but the lessons learned will serve our young entrepreneurs – and citizens – for years to come.

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