Like most nations, Japan was introduced to coffee through foreign trade. As with all countries that were newly exposed to the seemingly exotic tonic, it quickly became a symbol of worldly opulence only to be enjoyed by the upper echelons of society. Coffee first arrived in Nagasaki, Japan at the turn of the 17th century via Dutch and Portuguese traders.
It wasn’t until the late 19th century, however, that the Yale-educated businessman Eikei Tei opened the first Japanese coffee shop in Ueno, Tokyo (though Kahisakan Coffee House would go bankrupt just five years later). The rich, luxurious caffeinated beverage would go on to experience peaks and troughs of popularity in the coming centuries. Coffee fell out of favour during the Second World War when foreign imports were banned, though the invention of canned, iced coffee by the ‘Father of Coffee’ Tadao Ueshima in 1969 ushered in a new wave of beany acclaim.
Ueshima, as his flattering nickname suggests, can be credited with pioneering contemporary ‘ready-to-drink’ coffee enjoyment in Japan throughout the 20th century and beyond. While small, dark and comforting coffee houses known as Kissaten had been working to perfect brews and blends in the interim years, it was Ueshima who democratised and commercialised coffee on a grand scale. Japan’s penchant for artisanal creation in all facets of society is actually ingrained into the nation’s culture.
It’s why, though coffee doesn’t originate in Japan, the Land of the Rising Sun has seemingly perfected it. According to Ueshima Coffee, the practice is known as Takumi – “the pursuit of perfection without compromise.” Whether it be fashion, technology, architecture, accessories, cuisine, sweet treats or tasty beverages, Japan has mastered it all.
If Omotesando Koffee in Soho is too far out of reach, we’ve curated a selection of the best Japanese coffee available to buy now. Shop now.
