I pursued my master’s degree in sociology at Hitotsubashi University in Japan and later earned my PhD in geography from the University of Exeter in the UK, focusing on Ethiopian coffee tourism. Many people ask me how I began this research. Today, I want to share that story. I have always been drawn to projects…… Continue reading How a Winter Festival in Korea Led Me to Ethiopian Coffee Tourism
Tag: Ethiopia
Ethiopia: A Country with Many Names for Coffee
In the same way that the icy world has various terms for snow, and the desert world has countless words for sand, Ethiopia, the birthplace of coffee, has many names for this beloved beverage. Across Ethiopia, the names for coffee reflect its deep cultural importance and regional variations: – Buna: The most common name for…… Continue reading Ethiopia: A Country with Many Names for Coffee
Colonial Mapping of Ethiopia (1935)
Did you know Ethiopia and Japan both hosted their first global expos within decades of each other to assert their cultural identities to the world? As a cultural geographer, I’m exploring how coffee weaves history and culture across continents. Today’s discovery: a 1935 Japanese map of Ethiopia—let’s unpack it I found this fascinating map recently…… Continue reading Colonial Mapping of Ethiopia (1935)
The Changing Landscape of the Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony: A Reflection on Tradition and Modernity
Last September, I had the opportunity to join a coffee tour program in Rwanda organized by a private coffee company. Among the many highlights, one stood out: the inclusion of an Ethiopian coffee ceremony as part of the itinerary. As an Ethiopian coffee tourism and culture researcher, witnessing this ceremony outside of Ethiopia was an…… Continue reading The Changing Landscape of the Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony: A Reflection on Tradition and Modernity
