Every Friday, we feature a one-on-one Q&A with Japas, our resident curators: Maíra Kimura, Yumi Shimada, and Fernanda Ueno—founders of Japas Cervejaria. They will share their personal reflections on culture, travel, and the everyday moments including their connection to Japan.
Q: What was it like when you first visited Japan?
Maíra: Visiting Japan for the first time was surreal. It felt like stepping into a place that had always existed in my imagination through stories, food, family traditions, and suddenly it was real, vibrant and all around me. At the same time, it wasn’t entirely familiar. There was a strange tension between belonging and not quite fitting in. I looked like many people there, but couldn’t speak the language. I carried the culture in pieces, through my Brazilian upbringing and family habits, but in Japan, everything was more intense, more precise, more layered. It was beautiful and overwhelming walking under blooming cherry trees, noticing the way people moved, spoke, and behaved. That first visit made me feel proud of my roots, but also gave me a deeper understanding of what it means to live between cultures.
Yumi: The first time was like a discovery. It was the end of 2014, and I had the chance to give my parents something special: my mother’s first time on a plane and my father’s return to Japan after decades since going there to work. I also got to visit my brother’s home. I hadn’t seen him since we were kids. Experiencing that first time together as a family was truly unique. Every piece of clothing fit me, my hair looked like other women’s hair, and my friends kept losing sight of me in the crowd because so many people looked like me. Every street, every sign, every sound, and the chaotic, confusing ads all felt strangely beautiful. There was no Christmas as we know it. The customs, the way of eating, everything was different. It felt like every walk was an invitation to slow down and take it all in: graffiti, buildings, trains, people, food, and sensations. I wanted to capture every detail. It was like creating a personal backup of memories that would later become the cultural and visual references for my design work.
Fernanda: I first visited Japan in 2017 and stayed for a month, traveling to many different places. I started in Tokyo, then visited my cousin in Omaezaki and another cousin in Yokohama. I also went to Izu, where we brewed a collaboration with a local brewery called Baird Brewing Company. From there, I continued on to Kyoto, Osaka, and finally spent a week in Okinawa. I absolutely loved it, especially the food, the beautiful beaches and meeting amazing local people at izakayas. What touched me the most was the feeling of finally arriving in Japan. When I was a child, for a period of time, almost my entire family, including my grandmother, lived in Japan. We used to exchange letters, and they would send packages filled with gifts. I still remember the distinct smell that always came with those boxes. To me, it was “the smell of Japan.” When I arrived in Japan for the first time, I recognized that same smell, and it brought back so many memories, it was a very emotional moment. I traveled to Japan with Yumi, and we had the opportunity to discover many unique ingredients and learn Japanese concepts and stories. Many of those inspiring memories were transformed into beer recipes and label designs that carry a piece of our journey with them. It was incredible to experience the culture up close, visit places I had always dreamed of, and connect so deeply with my heritage. That trip meant a lot to me, and I can’t wait to return again next year.
Photo: Japas