Ai Tani
How did you get into the beer industry? Why does beer matter to you?
In 2006, I became a certified beer judge with the Japan Craft Beer Association. I founded CRAFT BEER BASE in 2012 as part of my effort to improve beer quality in Japan. I manages distribution and restaurants, leveraging my focus on maintaining beer quality. In 2018, I started a brewery, leveraging my management and brewing experience to be involved in every aspect of the business, from production to distribution and restaurants. I also host beer events to increase consumer interest, and participates in quality improvement seminars and talk sessions.
Why do you judge at the World Beer Cup? What does judging at the World Beer Cup mean to you?
The purpose of participating in the World Beer Cup is to gain a broader understanding of the quality of beer from around the world. Japan is an island nation, and originally a country of alcohol, so I believe it is very important for us to participate in this event and interact with other people as judges in order to constantly renew our definition of "beer" and have a global reach.
What else would you like the world to know?
In Japan, over 90% of people enjoy beer with food. Therefore, for Japanese people, enjoying beer more is also important to deepening its relationship with food.
