LANDMADE

Masato Ueno runs LANDMADE, a specialty coffee roastery in Port Island of Kobe City, western Japan. Located in a government-designated hub for medical research and development and operated by an all-women staff, LANDMADE serves coffee to families of pediatric cancer patients at least once every month – all unique characteristics not seen at most other roasteries. “I just keep doing what I can,” Ueno says. He has lived firmly by that motto and let it guide his actions. Our conversation has revealed a glimpse of his outlook on life and how he has come to adopt it. No future for worker-unfriendly Industry LANDMADE has three core employees, which is in itself not unusual for a small roastery. What sets LANDMADE apart is that they are all mothers with small...