The Beginning

In May 2013, I had just moved to Sydney, Australia. I had left Goldman Sachs a few months earlier and was looking for a new challenge when I found myself moving to Sydney. Initially, I had been thinking about finding a job that would utilize my experience in the financial industry, but I gradually began to feel uneasy. I felt that if I didn't take advantage of this wonderful opportunity and continued doing the same thing as before, I would never be happy.

Through my life in Sydney, I realized once again how much Japan and Japanese products are loved overseas. My friends proudly told me about the items they bought when they visited Japan, and they were often interested in the tableware I brought from Japan and eagerly asked me where they could buy it.

Then an idea popped into my head. "Let's turn this into a business." And so, Kurasu, an online store offering Japanese household products, was launched. I traveled to markets and exhibitions, met many people, and expanded my network while selling my products. As I continued, I realized that about 60% of my sales were from the Japanese-made coffee equipment that was part of my lineup.

Reborn as a coffee equipment specialty store, catering to a global customer base

It was a valuable experience to introduce Japanese household products to the Australian market, but we felt that in order to further grow Kurasu, we needed to narrow our product lineup and target customers around the world. Therefore, we moved our logistics base back to Japan, reduced intermediate costs as much as possible, and established a system that would enable us to deliver products directly to customers around the world.

Our goal is not to be just a retailer of Japanese coffee equipment, but to spread the unique Japanese coffee brewing method, culture, and its charm to the world. Third wave coffee, which is popular all over the world, is also strongly influenced by Japanese coffee culture. Japanese coffee culture is unique in that it pays attention to every detail and has the techniques and attitude to brew coffee with care.

As interest in Japanese coffee culture grows, so does demand for Kurasu, which now ships hundreds of products to over 100 countries around the world every month. In 2015, the company launched a coffee subscription service in partnership with roasters across Japan, and has been steadily increasing its subscribers both in Japan and overseas.

August 2016: Opened Kurasu Kyoto Stand

One of the most common inquiries we receive about Kurasu is from overseas customers asking, "Where in Japan can I find a Kurasu shop?" Opening a physical store is not an easy task, but we decided to create a place that could be enjoyed not only by tourists but also by Japanese customers, and so in the spring of 2016, we decided to open a store in our hometown, Kyoto.

Kurasu Kyoto Stand, which opened in August of the same year, quickly garnered attention as Kyoto's specialty coffee stand and was featured in many magazines both in Japan and abroad. What made us especially happy was that we were able to provide a space where not only customers from overseas, but also local and domestic customers could gather and interact while enjoying coffee. Kurasu Kyoto Stand has become an irreplaceable place where communication through coffee can be born, transcending borders and cultures.

Expanding stores overseas

With the success of Kurasu Kyoto Stand as a catalyst, we have been expanding globally with the vision of enriching people's lives through coffee. Since opening our first overseas store in Singapore in 2017, we have continued to grow, opening new stores one after another all over the world. Each store provides services tailored to the culture and needs of each region, while cultivating communities through coffee. Kurasu will continue to aim for growth on a global scale, with an eye on expanding into new areas.

Next Stage: Growing a Global Community

Kurasu started as a small project with just me, but has now grown into a global community with over 100 staff members around the world. We provide career opportunities to anyone with a passion for coffee and continue to create an environment where diverse talents can thrive. There are many careers at Kurasu, including barista, roaster, marketing, and management, and we are demonstrating new options in the coffee industry. We will continue to expand our community both domestically and internationally, and provide a place where each staff member can pursue their dreams and goals and grow.

Aiming for a sustainable future through coffee

Kurasu's mission is to "drive new global standards in the coffee industry" and is committed to making the entire industry more sustainable and prosperous, not just a coffee shop. Our mission is for producers, consumers, and staff to join hands and build a future for the coffee industry that emphasizes sustainability and fair trade. While providing coffee that is loved all over the world, we will have a positive impact on society and the environment, and pursue new possibilities that expand from a cup of coffee.

Kurasu Ebisugawa

Kurasu Kyoto Stand

Kurasu Orchard Stand

Kurasu Singapore

Kurasu Bangkok

Kurasu Thonglor

Kurasu Kissaten

Kurasu Senopati

Kurasu Hong Kong