Coffee in Japan

As early as the end of the 17th century, the Dutch brought coffee to Asia in the early 18th century, and coffee was soon introduced to Japan. Before and after the Meiji Restoration, Japan advocated total westernization, and the coffee culture with Dutch flavor took root in Japan. During the Taisho period (1879-1926), due to the pervasive atmosphere of freedom and democracy, fresh and luxuriant culture, cafes have been very prosperous.

However, with the rise of Japanese militarism and the continuous foreign war, and because of the second World War, Japan banned the import of coffee for a time, and it was not until 1950 that the coffee culture was revived again. So far, Japan is the third largest coffee consumer in the world, second only to the United States and Germany. Japan is followed by France, Italy and other European countries, so Japan is the most prosperous place of coffee culture in Asia. In the Asia-Pacific region, coffee consumption accounts for only 10% of the global total, but 60% of it is consumed by the Japanese.

The Japanese have made outstanding contributions to the whole coffee culture. Instant coffee and canned coffee are invented by the Japanese. As early as 1899, Japanese scientist Dr. Kato invented instant coffee in the United States. He made instant coffee from brewed coffee by vacuum drying. Unfortunately, Dr. Kato forgot to patent his experimental results, which gave people a head start. Then, in 1969, Mr. Tadao Ujima, the founder of Shangdao Coffee, accidentally invented canned coffee while catching a train.

As a result of continuous improvement and innovation, coffee has become a convenient and popular drink, which is contributed by the Japanese.