A Love Letter to My Younger Self

The bar opens tomorrow, Thursday, February 10, 2022 at 5pm. Below is a letter I wrote to each new team member that joins The Koji Club.

Welcome to our club.

Thank you for joining us. We are a dedicated group of folks who have made the commitment to celebrate, learn about, and advocate for Japanese sake. 

The inspiration for The Koji Club is a love letter to my younger self. Telling her that being Japanese is so awesome and nothing to be ashamed of. Sharing that Japanese food, beverage and culture is not esoteric, exotic, weird or stinky but rather should be celebrated everyday for its beauty, deliciousness and unique charm. The inception of the concept stems from a lifetime of confusion and insecurity around being ½ Japanese in the suburbs of Massachusetts and while I love love love my mom, her family, their traditions and especially eating miso soup with udon noodles instead of chicken noodle soup when I was sick, I often felt out of place.

Just because something does not look familiar does not mean it is bad.

We will share what we know, give you access to a group of people who know more, celebrate what you learn and drink well together during your time with us. You will meet my family. I hope to meet your family. But we are not family, we are a team. We are a group of individuals working together towards a mission and a vision through a set of values.

The Koji Club is a safe space for everyone to celebrate, learn about, and enjoy Japanese sake. Our mission is to reframe Japanese sake from an esoteric, “hangover inducing,” sushi companion (insert sake bomb here) to an approachable everyday beverage choice through nontraditional partnerships, unique learning experiences and when permitted, Boston’s first and best sake bar.

In the following pages, you will find our way of getting you up to speed on our common language and unique way of doing things. If you have questions, please write them down and then ask them immediately. Writing them down first will allow you to reflect on how far you’ve come and will allow us perspective into a fresh set of eyes on the subject we study constantly. 

Here is your notebook.

We are so happy you are here.

All the best,

Alyssa