Ojizo Coffee: A Ray of Light for Tokyo’s LGBTQ Community

In April 2025, Ojizo Coffee celebrated its first anniversary of opening up a brick-and-mortar store in Koenji. Joint owners Stephen Milne and Fumihiro Tanaka, partners in life and business, previously operated Ojizo within a space atop Shibuya’s Miyashita Park retail complex. Now firmly planted in the center of youthful Koenji, Ojizo Coffee has taken its place amongst a plethora of small businesses within the area’s narrow streets. Yet, this store is far from being just a coffee vendor, as along with its partnership with the delectable cookie connoisseurs at Monsta Sweets, Ojizo distinguishes itself by targeting not just fine hand-roasted Fairtrade coffee, but by focusing time and effort on more selfless pursuits, bringing attention to some of Japan’s pressing socio-economic struggles. It is, essentially, coffee with a conscience.

The Birth of Ojizo Coffee

Ojizo Coffee was first brewed in 2022, from which time Milne and Tanaka have since held several collaborations, along with running the aforementioned Miyashita Park space and a growing online store. Championing the use of hand-roasted and carefully selected Fairtrade beans, it is a labor of love for the pair. Speaking with CEO and co-owner Milne, he admits that while this roasting process is indeed labor-intensive, it is part of what makes Ojizo special. As a result of this caring approach, Ojizo now supplies its beans to a select number of independent stores in Tokyo, with distribution expansion being a goal for the near future. Though Milne was keen to point out that any business connection must be made with establishments that possess similar social ideals to themselves. Along with providing artfully crafted coffee, Ojizo is endeavoring to tackle taboo in Japan, by raising awareness and representation for LGBTQ+ issues and donating to domestic charities including Second Harvest Japan, the country’s first incorporated food bank. 

Charitable Endeavors

When operating in Miyashita Park, it was Milne and Tanaka’s aim to donate 10% of all proceeds to charitable organizations. Since opening in Koenji, they have only increased such benevolent efforts; notably having implemented a One Drink, One Meal initiative, wherein the purchase of a single drink is matched with the provision of a meal to someone in need. Hailing from Edinburgh in Scotland, Milne saw firsthand the effects that food insecurity could have on a local populace. Though in conversation he noted that Japan’s welfare situation is distinctive when compared to the case of his native UK. Back home, missed meals could result from a variety of socio-economic plights, from financial troubles to domestic disputes. Yet in Japan there is the added and ever-present risk of natural disaster, whereupon those who may one day support charitable organizations, find themselves relying on their services them the next. It is, then, a key tenet of Ojizo Coffee to assist such organizations however possible.

LGBTQ+ Awareness

Social welfare provision is not the only taboo affecting modern-day Japan and nor is it the only one that Ojizo seeks to address. The case of LGBTQ+ representation has been and still is one of most-contentious topics of political discussion in the Japanese Diet, with same-sex marriage still unrecognized in the country. Notably, there has been some recent progress, with the Tokyo District Court ruling in March 2024 that the current legal framework cannot be justified and should be considered a violation of the country’s Constitution. However, it is clear that such progress is slow, and LGBTQ+ representation may remain absent for the foreseeable future. This will not deter the openly gay owners of Ojizo however, with Milne and Tanaka sharing both a business and a home. 

When discussing the implications of being an openly LGBTQ+ business in Japan, the Scotsman was optimistically upbeat in his outlook. While initially conceding that since opening in Koenji last year, there have been some isolated issues, ultimately, he concluded that the overall experience has been a positive one, with Koenji being one of the more open and accepting neighborhoods in Tokyo. He adds that representation matters, so when Ojizo is decorated with the rainbow pride flag (a design which will proudly adorn the store’s cups for June and Pride Month), or when a customer and/or LGBTQ+ ally confides in Milne and Tanaka that they feel welcomed and safe in their store, it is a warming indicator that progress is being made. 

Partnership with Monsta Sweets

As a business, Ojizo Coffee is operated as a partnership between its two owners, but the store in Koenji is itself a partnership of vision. For Ojizo shares this space with the confectionery cognoscenti at Monsta Sweets. Established by Miami-native Gregorio Narvasa, Monsta Sweets bakes cookies in flavors that satisfy the broadest of taste buds, with themes shifting more often than Harajuku fashion trends. Big on taste and with the size to match, a double-choc or matcha cookie from Monsta pairs perfectly with an Ugandan or Ethiopian drip from Ojizo Coffee. 

This culinary collaboration began with a single message across social media, with Milne noting that the chemistry between the two businesses was instantaneous. “There was a shared drive to build something fun yet purpose-driven. [Ojizo and Monsta] complement each other perfectly — sweet and strong, fun and thoughtful.” Back in 2023, Monsta’s cookies were available at Ojizo space in Miyashita Park. Now, the two are synergetic players in a (not too bitter) sweet symphony.

The Bright Future of Ojizo

Having recently celebrated a significant milestone in the form of the shop’s first year in Koenji, I ask Milne about what he envisioned for the future of Ojizo. His answer epitomizes the store’s overall mission, not only as a brewer of exquisite java, but also as an advocate for social shift (apt as this is the name of Ojizo’s parent company). In a time of automation and rapid technological change, Milne notes, he and Tanaka are championing the positive aspects of human connection. Especially in Tokyo, where the breakneck speed of working life results in a two-space routine (from the home to the workplace and back again), Ojizo is aiming to foster that ‘third’ space atmosphere, promoting an inclusive and generous spot where an individual can ease their foot off life’s demanding gas pedal. 

“Whether it’s through pop-ups, charitable campaigns, or bold new drinks, [Ojizo] wants to keep pushing boundaries, while staying rooted in compassion,” says Milne. From his words, it is clear that his mission is multi-faceted. Much like how a well-made hand-drip takes time to brew and cannot be rushed, Ojizo Coffee is promoting the virtues of taking it slow. For it is during these fleeting moments of respite from the fast-paced Tokyo din, while sitting in a cozy café located down a narrow alleyway in Koenji, that visitors may savor the nourishing notes of Ojizo’s organic beans and perhaps envision what small change they themselves can make towards a slightly sweeter tomorrow.