IB is a global company based in Japan and Cambodia, brewing and selling craft beer under our mission: “Make the World Borderless with Beer.” We believe beer has the power to transcend barriers of race, culture, and inequality — connecting the world. We offer handcrafted beers made from local ingredients, alongside spaces designed to feel like a living room where every guest belongs.
Allow me to share the experience that first inspired me to pursue a career in beer.
I quit my job and set off alone on a journey across the African continent. What comes to mind when you hear “Africa”? Some might picture vast savannas and wildlife, while others may think of poverty, famine, or political corruption.
I encountered both firsthand. The energy of modern cities with towering skyscrapers was exhilarating — yet I was also robbed at knifepoint by a taxi driver and left injured. At the time, I genuinely thought I never wanted to return.
And yet, looking back, I find myself wanting to go back. At the heart of that feeling was my encounter with craft beer.
No matter where I traveled in the world, local craft beer was always there. In every country — at street stalls, markets, tiny bars tucked into side streets — locals gathered with a beer in hand, laughing and talking. As a traveler, I found myself naturally drawn into those moments.
Unlike wine or whisky, where price and vintage can create a sense of hierarchy, beer is something anyone can pick up and enjoy. That’s why a single toast — “Cheers!” — can bridge any social or economic divide.
Even without a shared language, a smile and a raised glass is enough. Through countless memories born that way, I came to feel that beer is a universal language — one that connects people across nationalities, cultures, and backgrounds.
Back in Japan, where divisions persist across education, income, religion, nationality, and countless other lines, I wanted at least the space around a drink to be free from all of that. Returning home from my travels, I made a decision: “I’m going to build a career connecting the world through beer.”
Since then, I’ve worked on the floor, face to face with guests, and witnessed countless moments of genuine connection. Conversations sparked naturally through beer, strangers laughing together, sharing a toast — sometimes even heading out sightseeing together the next day. These scenes have become part of everyday life for us.
Beer is not just a drink. I truly believe it is a culture in itself — one that brings people together, adds colour to communities, and etches memories into our lives. And I intend to keep brewing beer that creates those connections, all around the world.
