Riki Taniuchi is talking about Coffee Street, his latest project aimed at proselytizing for the specialty sceneย in Tokyo. He scratches his jaw, reaches for his mug of coffee, and thinks for a moment.
โThere are still so many people that just donโt know about specialty coffeeโeven though itโs taking off here, that excitement is confined to a small group of people, people who already like coffee.โ
โLike, the way the same people are always at the same coffee events?โ I ask.
โYes, exactly,โ Taniuchi says, smiling. โSo I thought, if itโs not a coffee event but atย Harukazeโฆ”
Taniuchi explains thatย Harukaze, a popular, free two-day party in Yoyogi Park, started in 1997 as an excuse for a group of friendsโartists, musicians, creatives, hippiesโto hang out and do hanami: cherry-blossom viewing. The musicians brought their friends and their instruments, the artists cameย to draw, paint, and create. The guy who said he’d bring music decided to bring a concert sound system instead of a radio/cassette player.
Just like that, they had an event on their hands.
After going on hiatus in 2002, the festival relaunched in 2009 as Spring Love Harukaze, and has gone offย each year since. Taniuchi says Harukaze now isย all about raising awareness for environmental issues through music, art, and workshops. He’s friends withย the organizers, so he started helping out.
And this year, he decided to bring his beloved specialty coffee with him, under the banner of Coffee Street. Itโs an impressive collection of local roasters and cafes,ย including Glitch Coffee, Trunk Coffee, Switch Coffee, Light Up Coffee, and Single O Japan.
โAt music events there arenโt any preconceptions,” Taniuchi continues. “Itโs just people getting together. And I thought of Harukaze as a good opportunity to give people that alternative: โHow about a cup of coffee?โ I thought if they could tryย good specialty coffee, theyโd understand.”
In case youโre wondering who this character is, itโs like this: If you know specialty coffee in Tokyo, you probably know Riki Taniuchi.
Been to a public cupping at Fuglen? You’ve probably seen him. Visit About Life Coffee Brewers, Woodberry Coffee Roasters, or Switch Coffee regularly? Youโve probably seen him.
Heโll tell you himself: heโs obsessed.
But the thing is, heโs not a barista. He’s not a roaster, either. He just really loves coffee. Since first being introduced to the stuff while playing bike polo in the Statesโitโs a long storyโTaniuchiโs been addicted, drinking his way around Tokyo, making friends, getting to know the scene, and networking.
Harukaze has suchย friendships and networking at its base.
โI wantedย to make use of skills I already have,” Taniuchi says of bringingย his love of coffee into the bright light ofย Harukaze. “Iโve [put on]ย shows before, and have worked stage management, so I know people who have organized food stalls at events likeย Fuji Rock. I thought it would be easier to work together”โboth with the festival and with the many coffee vendors. For some, his status outside the coffee industry was all the more appealing.
โAll the shops attending know what Iโm about,โ Taniuchi says. โThey know Iโm not a coffee shop. So knowing me, and talking to me, they agreed to take part, and we could move ahead with planning.โ
โSo what can we expect?โ I ask.
Taniuchi talks about the shops coming along for Coffee Street’s debut at Harukaze: Light Up is goingย to do espresso; Switch Coffee and Megane Coffee are planning a collaboration and doing coffee cocktails; Trunkย is showing offย itsย newest coffee/craft beer collaboration; andย Hoshikawa Cafe is coming all the way from Saitama.
As Taniuchi talks, you get a real sense ofย his passion. You can see why he wants to share it, and why heโd go to the effort. He just wants other people to love coffee the way he does.
Come April 2 and 3, itโs going to be trees of pink, live music, art, and people meeting under the trees; talking, laughing, eating, and drinking.
And in all of that, this year, a space for specialty coffee.
Hengtee Limย (@Hent03) is a Sprudge.com staff writer based in Tokyo. Read moreย Hengtee Lim on Sprudge.
