- 2022.07.28
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We are Kochi-ke: Ken Mukai Brewing change one drink at a time
“It all started when my friend in Kochi called me up and said, “Ken, I found the place for you.” I had no idea what he was talking about. “Remember? You said you are gonna move to Kochi and start a brewery! Well, I found a building and you should come look at it.” I started to recall our conversation over drinks the previous month and said with a laugh, “that was just a joke!” It was indeed an idea I threw out there for fun, but ironically, 5 years later today, it’s very much come true.”
"I fell in love with Kochi on my first visit (28 years ago), and had made over 20 visits since then, so I already had deep ties with this region for years. But there was something more, several key pieces, that made my wife and I fully determined to move to this part of rural Japan.”
“Although I was doing my best as a teacher in Los Angeles, I was becoming exhausted trying to continue as an effective educator due to unreasonable administrative mandates, expanding class sizes and increasing frequency of claims.”
“By that point too, I had lost several close friends due to various illnesses. I would reflect on their lives at their funerals, and think with sadness about how my friend will never be able to go further in life. But this in turn made me think about what I could still do in my life. Because I am still alive.”
“Realizing how short life can be, and feeling frustrated with trends in education I thought, “Wait, maybe it might not be such a bad idea to consider that brewery idea in Kochi.”"
“However, leaving the teaching profession to merely run a brewery just didn’t fit well with my core value of helping my community. I needed a more meaningful mission. In my search, I discovered that Niyodogawa Town was, and still is, losing its population quite rapidly. That’s what led to our mission of using our beer to help revitalize this town, and that mission was the final piece needed to make the commitment to move to Kochi.”
“Since we opened Mukai Craft Brewing in 2020, we’ve stayed focused on our community-centered mission, featuring beers with locally-sourced ingredients, opening a large barbecue space for bringing people together, as well as participating in festivals, clean-ups, and other town activities. We hope to inspire others, not only to come visit, but live in this wonderful place where the nature is unbelievable, water super clear, food delicious, and people really friendly.”
“We sure have a long way to go but we’re more determined than ever to help bring change…one beer at a time!”
“We are Kochi-ke (Kochi family)” is all about highlighting the stories of the people who make us proud to call Kochi our home. Whether you are living in Kochi now or only visited once, you are part of the Kochi family
Mukai Craft Brewing: https://mukaicraftbrewing.com/
Ken uses Niyodo River’s crystal-clear waters in his beers. Learn more: https://visitkochijapan.com/en/highlights/niyodoriver
"I fell in love with Kochi on my first visit (28 years ago), and had made over 20 visits since then, so I already had deep ties with this region for years. But there was something more, several key pieces, that made my wife and I fully determined to move to this part of rural Japan.”
“Although I was doing my best as a teacher in Los Angeles, I was becoming exhausted trying to continue as an effective educator due to unreasonable administrative mandates, expanding class sizes and increasing frequency of claims.”
“By that point too, I had lost several close friends due to various illnesses. I would reflect on their lives at their funerals, and think with sadness about how my friend will never be able to go further in life. But this in turn made me think about what I could still do in my life. Because I am still alive.”
“Realizing how short life can be, and feeling frustrated with trends in education I thought, “Wait, maybe it might not be such a bad idea to consider that brewery idea in Kochi.”"
“However, leaving the teaching profession to merely run a brewery just didn’t fit well with my core value of helping my community. I needed a more meaningful mission. In my search, I discovered that Niyodogawa Town was, and still is, losing its population quite rapidly. That’s what led to our mission of using our beer to help revitalize this town, and that mission was the final piece needed to make the commitment to move to Kochi.”
“Since we opened Mukai Craft Brewing in 2020, we’ve stayed focused on our community-centered mission, featuring beers with locally-sourced ingredients, opening a large barbecue space for bringing people together, as well as participating in festivals, clean-ups, and other town activities. We hope to inspire others, not only to come visit, but live in this wonderful place where the nature is unbelievable, water super clear, food delicious, and people really friendly.”
“We sure have a long way to go but we’re more determined than ever to help bring change…one beer at a time!”
“We are Kochi-ke (Kochi family)” is all about highlighting the stories of the people who make us proud to call Kochi our home. Whether you are living in Kochi now or only visited once, you are part of the Kochi family
Mukai Craft Brewing: https://mukaicraftbrewing.com/
Ken uses Niyodo River’s crystal-clear waters in his beers. Learn more: https://visitkochijapan.com/en/highlights/niyodoriver
