I have, in fact, always noticed Jamaica and Japan’s closeness in country lists on web forms. I’ve had to be careful in selecting the right one to reflect nationality or residence.
In reality, the two countries are geographically quite far apart, with many differences.One thing that bridges that distance is Japan being the biggest importer of Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee.
Coffee interests in Japan (and Jamaica) mark this particular fact on January 9, Blue Mountain Coffee day.
This year I attended the commemorative events in Tokyo– a lecture and cocktail party. Masaya Kawaguchi from the UCC Academy who gave the lecture, pointed to another iteration of the countries’ closeness on digital lists. Their order in opening parades of sporting events like the Olympics. UCC is a big importer of coffee. I remember hitching a ride on a UCC truck on a hike in the Blue Mountains. With a Japanese friend.
In the lecture, Kawaguchi talked about many things I didn’t know or cared to know. Most Jamaicans only know that our coffee is apparently famous or sought after. We don’t seek after it ourselves or even know why people love it. It’s easy to drink, mild, is apparently one of the reasons.
One section of the event was a brewing demonstration by a champion barista. Of course, coffee was served. I don’t typically drink coffee, but I couldn’t resist taking a few sips.
The lecture, given in Japanese, was sprinkled with video snippets of UCC’s farm, some Jamaican workers speaking. Norman Grant and Pearnel Charles Jr brought greetings,
The head of a company representing the Jamaica Tourist Board gave an intro of Jamaica in Japanese. The Jamaican ambassador was resplendent in kimono. Entertainment was folk songs. Food was jerk, festival, ackee cups. Coffee cocktails inspired by the barista’s visit to Jamaica were conversation starters. It was a mixed affair.
Personally, it kinda felt like I was a reporter in Kingston all over again. Fishing for a story, feeling slightly uncomfortable at these social events. Less so this time, as it gave me a warm piece of home in winter.