“Be pirates. Be playful.” That’s the motto of Yellow Monkey Brewing (YMB), one of Yokohama’s newest craft beer breweries. The phrase is unusual, but it makes more sense once you interact with the three people responsible for the business: Hiroki Komada (Founder & CEO), Kengo Saito (Head Brewer), and Hirono Saito (Head of Sales, no relation to Kengo). “Be pirates” refers to resisting societal norms and refraining from mindless conformity. “Be playful” means being less serious, trying different things, and enjoying life with a genuine smile. YMB is their space for enabling that–and yours, too, they hope.
Komada previously worked as head of the Japanese subsidiary of Swiss sports brand On. He enjoys running, but is also a big beer fan. As a longtime Bashamichi resident, he is familiar with the bars in the area. In January 2023, a mutual friend at Yokohama Beer introduced him to brewer Saito at a Noge izakaya. At the time, Kengo was working at Number Nine Brewery in Hammerhead, but wanted to open his own place and was looking for investors. Komada says that what left an impression was that Kengo’s goal “was not just to make beer, but more to see his customers’ smiles when drinking it.” Komada had a similar philosophy; beyond selling shoes, he valued happy, healthy customers connecting through sports. Their happiness equated to his satisfaction. He had been thinking of leaving On to try something new, and it seemed fate had presented him with the chance. Instead of simply investing, he decided to work with Kengo.
Hirono, Komada’s friend and jogging companion, is a personal trainer and also a beer fan, but had previously been a restaurant manager. The two men thought she would be the perfect fit as a third partner to their endeavor. She felt the same and, long story short, YMB was born. After nine months of preparation, the grand opening was held this past May.
The space is in a quiet area of mostly apartment complexes, just a few minutes’ walk from Nakagawa Station. The interior is bright and spacious–allowing for the possibility of beer yoga, says Komada. In step with the sporty concept, the taproom is on a route popular with joggers. To lure them for a post-run reward, they even installed a shower room for guests.
Brewing equipment is expected to arrive in July and the goal is to have in-house beers on tap by mid-September. For the time being, the eight taps pour guest beers, occasionally Kengo’s collaborations with other breweries (S 240ml, ¥900~; L 380ml, ¥1400~). The brewing area opens into the taproom, which will provide patrons with a view onto the action.
Kengo’s plans for brewing include his trademark low-alcohol beers, suitable for both light drinkers and as a run capper. He assures us that a 1%ABV beer will be a regular when production starts. The brewer also spent close to a year in New Zealand, where he spent time working at a brewery. Through his connections there, he aims to import and employ hops, malt, and even barrels from the country. Reminding us of the YMB motto, he says he will “be playful” with his recipes.
The food menu is evolving and currently offers items like fish & chips, fried mozzarella sticks, and snacks such as smoked nuts. For non-drinkers YMB has an espresso machine and, as families are welcome, juice for kids. Note that payment is cashless only.
YMB is quickly gaining popularity with locals as their hip, hometown watering hole. We look forward to watching it grow as the team rolls out original beers and devises clever new ways to utilize its space.