Following a deep personal loss, Yosuke Masuko sought many means to understand what happiness truly means. But it was through simple pizza parties with friends—baking their own pizza doughs and experimenting with various kinds of toppings—that brought him closest to the answer, ultimately planting the seeds for the founding of Pizza 4Ps in 2011.
Co-founded with his wife, Sanae, Pizza 4P’s (read as ‘for peace’) is his way of spreading this idea of peace and happiness, which can be found in simple moments and ‘small triggers’ like enjoying the Italian comfort food. From an alley-side restaurant in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, 4P’s has since extended its influence and message to Cambodia, India, Masuko’s home country Japan, and now, with its recent opening in Jakarta Mori Tower, Indonesia.
Set on the 14th floor of the office building, the restaurant designed by Tokyo, Bali and Sulawesi-based architect Mitsuha Sato strikes an interesting contrast with its sleek, corporate surroundings. A weaving hut-like structure, referred to as the ‘museum’, stands at its entrance, through which customers must pass to enter the dining area. Inside this pathway, a projection mapping presentation explores Pizza 4P’s theme of ‘oneness through biodiversity’ in the context of pizza-making, highlighting humanity’s connection to all living things by emphasising the essential role of animals and microorganisms in the process.
“Oneness means that we’re all connected to each other, and we believe that peace and happiness can be achieved when we recognise this connection and show gratitude and compassion to others,” shared global brand director Kazuya Kubota. “For Indonesia specifically, we decided to focus on our connection with earth’s biodiversity, with the country being the second largest biodiversity next to Brazil.”
Beyond the museum, this idea is embodied in 4P’s work with local craftsmen and producers, and sustainable practices that preserve and maintain the local biodiversity. They pour into details like the cushions and curtains that are traditionally dyed indigo using plants sourced from across the archipelago, the terrazzo flooring that utilises discarded green mussel shells to create its sandy patterns, to the window-side dining tables made out of a variety of upcycled waste—looking surprisingly at home whilst juxtaposed against the backdrop of neighbouring skyscrapers.
As for the pizza itself, diners can find 4P’s signature toppings such as the 5 Cheese (mozzarella, camembert, parmesan, gorgonzola, edam), which is best enjoyed with a drizzle of honey. Different to the original in Vietnam, however, pizzas at the Indonesian outlet use a sourdough base, giving them a more springy texture. There are also topping options that draw from local flavours such as the Beef Rendang with Sambal, a richly spiced and surprisingly loyal interpretation of the local dish that somehow works despite the peculiar combination. Thus, a tip is to order a half-and-half to explore as many toppings as possible.
To complement, the Organic Strawberry with House-made Burrata appetiser with sapphire grapes—a special creation by head chef Genzo Miyata—is a good choice to have a taste of 4P’s renowned housemade cheese whilst refreshing your palate for another slice of pizza. Or, if there’s still room left in your appetite, double down with Kalimantan’s Crab Tomato Cream Spaghetti, which expands on 4P’s signature menu from Vietnam with a more sizeable local crab. Wash it all down with 4P’s own club sodas, crafted in collaboration with Locavore NXT, like the cola-inspired Cokebucha.
Creating peace and happiness might seem like an ambitious goal for a pizza establishment—and perhaps it is. Yet, observing the scene unfold at Pizza 4P’s—from families with children, couples on dates to co-workers still in their Batik shirts—it’s hard to deny that, for a moment, there’s a touch of truth to it on those dining tables as diners revel in the simple pleasure of eating pizza.