With International Coffee Day just around the corner on October the 1st, what better way for us to celebrate it at Ueshima than by taking a look at the importance of coffee in Japan, our place in the history of coffee and celebrating Japanese Coffee Culture as we know it today.
The History of Coffee in Japan
Despite being associated more with tea drinking perhaps, Japan has a rich history of coffee culture dating back to the late 1800s when Dutch merchants first brought the mysterious, rich but bitter dark beverage into the country.
It’s fair to say that it didn’t initially take off and it wasn’t really until the 1900s when Japan started to modernise and more and more outside influences from around the world were evident that a coffee culture began to develop.
Japan's first dedicated modern coffee house called Kahisakan opened in Tokyo in 1888 during the Meiji period, a time of significant adoption of Western culture. Soon coffee masters around the country were applying the traditional Japanese traits of craftsmanship, innovation and quality to the traditional Western techniques of coffee roasting and brewing.
Kahisakan was the first of what became many “Coffee Houses” across Japan, known as Kissatens and they were the foundation of the unique and thriving world of Japanese coffee that you see today. In fact, not only is “National Coffee Day” celebrated in Japan, the legacy of that first shop, Kahisakan, is celebrated with “Coffee Shop Day” in Japan on April the 13th.
Tadao Ueshima - The Father of Coffee
In the 1930s, Tadao Ueshima, an ambitious man with a passion for Western food and drink, opened a food store in the port city of Kobe. He soon developed a love of coffee, the rich and aromatic ‘‘mysterious beverage’ as he called it and he dedicated himself to making coffee popular across his home country.
This little Western food store went on to become what we today know as Ueshima Coffee Company and Tadao became known as “The Father of Coffee” in Japan. His passion for coffee and approach to the culture and craft around coffee remain the foundations of UCC today and we continue to be inspired by him.
Japan’s Influence on Coffee Around the World
There are numerous instances throughout history where you can point to the influence of Japan on the popularity and production of coffee across the world. Starting at the beginning of the 20th century when Japanese migrants searching for a better life arrived in Brazil on The Jasato Maru ship and began working in agriculture and on the coffee plantations of the time.
They have been widely credited with helping to launch Brazil’s coffee industry, not to mention strengthening the interest and expertise in coffee back home in Japan.
Furthermore, one of the most influential and well recognised piece brewing equipment known to coffee connoisseurs around the world, the V60 was invented by Japanese company Hario, who still make V60s today amongst a range of other brewing products and coffee accoutrements.
Read more about the origins of the V60 and what we mean by Pour Over Coffee >>>
And remember our Japanese Father of Coffee?
Well not only did our very own Tadao Ueshima have a huge influence on the coffee culture in Japan, he also had an impact on the coffee business globally. In the 1960s he invented the world’s first “ready to drink” canned coffee! That’s right, we’re the inventors behind canned coffee and Ueshima Coffee Company even holds a Guinness World Record for the longest selling canned coffee product!
Japanese Coffee Culture Today
So as we look to celebrate International Coffee Day around the world, what is coffee culture like in Japan today? The short answer is, it’s thriving.
The culture of coffee that you’ll see in Japan today is a wonderful mix of tradition and history with both modern western influences and the values and characteristics that underpin Japanese culture as a whole.
Very much like the ritualistic nature of Italian coffee culture, in Japan the etiquette and routine around coffee is very much underpinned by traditional societal norms and practice.
Kissaten - The Traditional Japanese Coffee House
The traditional coffee house, or ‘Kissaten’ are still very much part of Japan’s culture and they played a huge role in the introduction and spread of coffee from the early 20th century through to the present day. They are a wonderful way to not only enjoy a traditional coffee experience but also get a real sense of history. You’ll find vintage brewing equipment, dark furniture and a wonderfully serene atmosphere which embodies the Japanese culture of harmony, relaxation and self reflection.
The Modern Coffee Shop
In contrast to the Kissatens, Japan has also fully embraced the modern coffee shop that you might find in the trendiest spots of Milan, Brooklyn or London. Here you will experience a more Westernised experience but with a real focus on the artisan and almost scientific approach to coffee making. You’ll find a variety of brewing methods from pour over to siphon and espresso.
Modern coffee shops have also been embracing more experimental trends, particularly around cold brew and coffee cocktails. Across the summer you might find shops offering a “Coffee Tonic” which originated from Sweden and combines espresso coffee with tonic water or flavoured sparkling water.
Take a look at our very own Coffee Tonic recipe >>>
Japanese baristas take their craft very seriously and their dedication to not just the drink they’re making you but the experience you will have drinking it is very much in line with the traditional concept of ‘sado’ or ‘way of tea’ now being applied as the ‘way of coffee.’
The Importance of Etiquette
Politeness is paramount in many aspects of Japanese culture and when it comes to coffee, it’s no different. Both the traditional Kissatens and more modern coffee shops are considered to be havens of calm and tranquillity and very much the antithesis of the bustling noisy experience you might get in a large popularised Western coffee chain.
Keep your conversations quiet and certainly step outside to take a phone call. You won’t find many people on a Zoom call on a laptop, that’s for sure! The idea is that everyone should be able to quietly savour the experience and the coffee.
The Quirks of Japanese Cafe Culture
As you would imagine, the culture of coffee drinking in Japan is full of little quirks and things which just feel very Japanese somehow. Along with the quite unique experience of both the traditional and modern coffee shops, you’ll also find themed coffee shops. Cat cafes for example are now quite common with cats being a hugely loved and respected animal in Japan.
Japanese baristas have also really embraced the concept of late art, taking it to another level in some cases. In line with that sense of craftsmanship and beauty, unbelievable skill goes into some creations and even the invention of 3D latte art by the likes of Kazuki Yamamoto.
You’re also likely to find a coffee vending machine on your travels in Japan, including our very own UCC canned coffees, whether in a city or more rural area. The perfect way to get a quick caffeine fix and surprisingly something that doesn’t seem to have caught on so much in the UK or the West, with fizzy drinks and crisps still our staple on station platforms and office buildings.
Ten things you never knew about coffee in Japan >>>
A truly Japanese take on a global drink
The brilliance of Japanese cafe culture (if we don’t say so ourselves) is that perfect blend of Japan’s traditions and customs with the truly global experience of coffee drinking.
So as you celebrate International Coffee Day this year, brew your favourite Ueshima blend and sit back and relax, quietly reflecting on just how important Japan is to coffee around the world.