Tadao Ueshima was a wholesaler working at the Port of Kobe when he sipped his first cup of coffee in 1933. Tasting a business opportunity, he began roasting coffee for local cafes. After WWII, when imports were allowed again in Japan, the “Father of Coffee in Japan” founded the Ueshima Coffee Company in 1951. Although only 37.4% of Japanese favor coffee over tea, the market continues growing. In 2015, Japan’s domestic consumption reached 462,000 tons. Want to learn lots more about your favorite beverage? Then visit the UCC Coffee Museum on Port Island. Reserve time to experience the Tasting Corner.
