Design Exhibition
PATH TO THE PERFECT CUP: Coffee Culture in Japan

Dates:
April 8 - June 7, 2025

Hours:
Mon-Sat 12:00pm-6:00pm
Closed on Sundays & Holidays (April 29, May 24 and 26)

Location:
The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles Hall
(5700 Wilshire Blvd.,#100, Los Angeles, CA 90036)
Admission: FREE

Opening Reception:
7PM Tuesday, April 8

RSVP preferred
 

Coffee culture is currently in a “third wave” that emphasizes an artisanal approach to the beverage by considering the source of the coffee bean, its level of roasting, and the method of brewing.  

There are various ways to brew coffee, each of which involves a particular tool and technique. Perhaps the most popular brewing tool is the dripper, and the best-known examples are produced by companies in Japan. But why, if Japan is traditionally associated with tea, is this the case?

It can be argued that Japan’s tea culture is the foundation upon which Japanese coffee culture flourished to its current form. Music and entertainment from the West had been integrated into Japanese popular culture alongside coffee, resulting in social establishments such as the coffee-focused kissaten.

This exhibition, organized in collaboration with Kurasu, explores the effects that coffee has had on Japan and, simultaneously, the extraordinary contributions that Japan has made to the global coffee community. 

about Kurasu:

We are a specialty coffee shop with the vision to spread coffee culture from Kyoto, Japan to the globe.

Kurasu comes from the Japanese word “to live” or “lifestyle.” Starting from a small online homeware shop back in 2013, we now run physical and online shops to deliver quality specialty coffee roasted in our Nishijin Roastery, tea and Japanese brewing equipment to the world.

We provide high-quality coffee from Kyoto and advocate for Japanese coffee culture, coffee community, and homebrew. Working together, we aim to realize a sustainable future in coffee.

Instagram: @kurasu.kyoto
Website: kurasu.kyoto