On April 16th, American craft beer bar Antenna America hosted a party on Zushi Beach with San Diego-based craft brewery Coronado.
Clad in laid-back beach attire, the president of Coronado, Rick Chapman, and VP of sales & marketing, Brandon Richards, mingled with guests beachside at Kuromon Cafe Nagisagoya. The two men chatted up hundreds of local fans over beers, surprising many with their easy-going, very approachable nature. Chapman turned down no requests for picture opportunities and social media in the Yokohama area was likely flooded with his image.
This isn’t the first time Coronado has visited Yokohama. In 2013, they participated in the Great Japan Beer Festival held at Osanbashi Hall, where they won two medals. Another San Diego brewery of note, Ballast Point, has also visited the city twice for special events and festivals. Both of these breweries have won major awards at the prestigious World Beer Cup. Yokohama residents are fortunate to be able to drink their beers any time at Antenna America and other local establishments.
There is more meaning to these exchanges than just beer and good times. Yokohama and San Diego have been sister cities since 1957 and the relationship is much more than just ceremonial niceties. It allows not only for business exchange, but also the exchange of good will and friendship. We know for a fact that these breweries’ teams traveled back to San Diego and related to others how Yokohama’s people and businesses were such great hosts. This casts Yokohama in a positive light and perhaps encourages San Diego residents to visit us.
Alternatively, you could visit San Diego as an ambassador of our city. It’s a beautiful port city like our own. They have an active sister-city society with regular events if you want to pursue the friendship even deeper: www.sandiegoyokohamasistercity.org