I just checked into a hotel near Narita Airport and had a nice and relaxing soak in an onsen spa.

I’m at the height of an Ethiopian craze right now. Starting tomorrow, my life will slowly return to normal, and this excitement and energy I’m feeling right now will gradually fade before I realize.

So, I started another journey on my flight back to Japan.

It’s a journey of pouring my heart and soul into a cup of coffee that can even bring tears to the eye of the drinker. It’s a journey of living my life, and expressing myself, to the fullest.

Masa, the CEO of TYPICA, told me pledges you write down during a flight will come true. (Masa has always shared many pearls of wisdom with me.) So, following his advice, on my flight back I put together a list of 100 things to do ☺️ when I get back to Japan.

And credit where credit is due, the title of this post is inspired by Shinya Ueda, who said during the trip that the real journey begins when we return to Japan.

There is no such thing as the right thing, there is no such thing as the wrong thing. It’s just that we have to keep choosing what’s best for ourselves – Masashi Goto.

My new journey has begun!

I was taken aback when one of the roasters I met on this trip to Ethiopia told me this.

“Maybe…” Well, that was my initial thought.

My life took a drastic turn when I became the top barista at Starbucks Coffee in Japan and earned the title of Coffee Ambassador. 

I opened my own business with the goal of becoming the best in the world. However, the obstacles were too overwhelming, and I was on the brink of either breaking down or losing my family.

My daughter Riri, born with Down syndrome, came to my rescue.

She showed me that the most important thing in life is to lead a normal, everyday life and to prioritize happiness and well-being as a family.

You can learn more about this story by watching the TYPICA Meet the Roasters video at the link below.

The goal of being the best in the world is enticing, and of course I had a deep-seated desire to achieve it. I pushed myself hard, but my mind and body were exhausted.

I realized that I may have brought this curse upon myself. But this trip to Ethiopia has turned my curse into a prayer.

I will continue to pray every day to become the best roaster in the world, to enjoy it, and to share that joy with others, living by my motto “Coffee is beautiful, Life is beautiful.”

Thank you, Yama-san!

We were treated to a traditional Ethiopian meal of injera and coffee during a coffee ceremony. After another flight from Addis Ababa to Awassa, we took a ride in a Land Cruiser to our hotel.

On the way, we drove through the sprawling Ethiopian countryside, past cattle ranches and houses, and saw slices of the daily life of the Ethiopian people. We even passed a nicely dressed crowd on their way home from church.

Finally, after checking into the hotel and taking a short break, the TYPICA Lab trip began. 

We will be traveling as a group of Japanese and South Korean roasters, so we introduced ourselves through interpreters.

This was my first time sharing my thoughts about my coffee shop and my perspective on coffee with others. Although I had previously jotted down my ideas in a notebook, it was truly inspiring to listen to the ideas and insights of my fellow roasters. 

For me, that was the first big bang of this trip.

This experience touched me deeply, filling me with a sense of renewal.

My personal theme for this trip is to be reborn in Ethiopia, the birthplace of coffee.

My goals for the trip are:

1. To immerse myself in the birthplace of coffee.
2. To update my coffee senses.
3. To let go of myself.
4. To simply enjoy the trip.

I’m eagerly looking forward to the final day of the trip and seeing if I have been reborn.