It's impossible to start this story without mentioning beer. After all, it was through bar conversations, gatherings, and beer festivals that we realized we had so much in common: not only were we all of Japanese descent, but we were also among the few women in the industry. After a few years and many glasses later, the three of us –Fernanda Ueno, Maíra Kimura and Yumi Shimada – embarked on the brewery project, and things started getting more serious. That's when our paths crossed with the perfect person to join us at the table: our friend and new partner, Tânia Matsuoka.

​

This union occurred when we noticed so many strong similarities. We were always aligned with a common purpose: to come together, embrace our roots, break stereotypes surrounding our gender and history, show that women can and should participate in environments typically considered masculine, and increasingly prove that beer has no gender. And, of course, we do all of this while pursuing what we love the most: recipes with a story.

​

Each of our creations is the result of a search into our ancestry. Inspired by this blend of aromas, flavors, and culture, we strive to celebrate the union between Brazil and Japan in a contemporary way, free from clichés or preconceived ideas.

​

Our name, Japas, is a term widely used in Brazil to refer to people of Japanese descent. Sometimes, this term is used without our permission. That's why we decided to redefine and reclaim this adjective. After all, if we have the place of speech, we should also have control over the words, right? So, let it be used with pride and to represent who we are: Japanese-Brazilian women.