Special Guests TYPICA GUIDE Special Nominators

Special Nominators consist of coffee producers, roasters, and coffee lovers in various fields from around the world.
They also cast their vote during the Final Round.

• Business

  

  Bing Chomprasob

  Chief Representative Officer for Japan at the World Economic Forum

  Bing Chomprasob leads the World Economic Forum’s engagement with government, business, academia and civil society in Japan. He is responsible for shaping Japan’s contributions to regional and global agendas. He previously served as Deputy Head for Regional Agenda, Asia Pacific at the World Economic Forum, where he managed the Forum’s relationships with governments and public institutions across the Asia Pacific region, including ASEAN, and led global education and skills initiatives. He previously worked with international development organisations such as USAID and the JPMorgan Chase Foundation, focusing on education, workforce development, and sustainability. He holds a Master’s degree from the London School of Economics and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Irvine.
• Coffee

  

  Yoshinori Uda

  CEO/President of OGAWA COFFEE CO., LTD.

  Yoshinori Uda oversees OGAWA COFFEE CO., LTD., OGAWA COFFEE CREATES CO., LTD., and Ogawa Coffee USA, Inc. Based in Boston, he travels to coffee origins around the world as a buyer. As a barista trainer, he has mentored two World Barista Champions. He also serves as Executive Producer for the flagship stores “OGAWA COFFEE LABORATORY Sakurashinmachi / Shimokitazawa / Azabudai” and “Ogawa Coffee Sakaimachi Nishiki Shop.”
• Media

  

  Taisuke Watanabe

  Deputy Editor-in-Chief, BRUTUS

  Taisuke Watanabe joined MAGAZINE HOUSE CO., LTD. and has been part of the BRUTUS editorial team since 2003. During his tenure, he oversaw two coffee feature issues in 2007 and 2012. In 2013, he contributed to the launch of &Premium before returning to BRUTUS in 2022. Most recently, he led the coffee feature issue published in autumn 2024.
• Entertainment

  

  Yurina Kumai

  TV personality, Model

  Yurina Kumai debuted in 2004 as a member of the idol group Berryz Kobo (Hello! Project). She performed at the 58th NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen (Annual Red and White Song Festival), won the New Artist Award at the Asia Song Festival, and built a wide following through concerts both in Japan and overseas. Since Berryz Kobo went on hiatus, she has appeared regularly on programs such as TBS’s Osama no Brunch and tvk’s Kanaful TV, Kanagawa Prefecture’s public information program. In addition to her television work, she has also modeled in shows for brands including GIORGIO ARMANI and TAE ASHIDA.
• Entertainment

  

  Shimon Okura

  TV personality, Model

  Born on March 16, 1992, and originally from Kyoto Prefecture, Shimon Okura began his career after being scouted in Omotesando as an amateur model. He went on to appear in various fashion magazines before expanding into entertainment programs and serving as an MC at events nationwide. Now 33, he announced the launch of his own talent agency in October 2022, followed the next day by his marriage to fellow TV personality Michopa. In April 2025, his first self-titled program, Kyokura Shimon, began airing on KBS Kyoto.
• TYPICA Partner Producers

  

  Leon Christianakis

  Acacia Hills

  Leon Christianakis is the founder of Acacia Hills, a single-estate coffee farm located in northern Tanzania on the slopes of Kilimanjaro. Together with the neighboring Tembo Tembo estate, he manages two farms cultivating a wide range of varieties, from the native Kent to SL28, Pacamara, and Geisha. He is one of the most highly regarded producers within the TYPICA network.
• TYPICA Partner Producers

  

  Fikri Raihan Hakim

  Java Frinsa Estate

  Java Frinsa Estate is a family-run farm located in Java, Indonesia. Beyond coffee farming, the estate has built a model that sustains the environment and local livelihoods in tandem with the community. These efforts, which go beyond conventional coffee production, have continued to evolve through its partnership with TYPICA, now in its fifth year.
• TYPICA Partner Producers

  

  Biniyam Aklilu

  Gujoo Trading

  In the 1960s, Biniyam Aklilu’s grandfather established the first private washing station in Guji, which later grew into the major company Nardos. Striking out on his own, Biniyam founded Gujoo Trading in 2018. While honoring traditional processing methods, he carefully refines each step to produce beautiful clean cups that showcase the region’s terroir.
• TYPICA Partner Producers

  

  Nayra Qata

  Juan Boyan Guarachi

  Nayra Qata is a dry mill located in La Paz, Bolivia. Its founder, Juan Boyan Guarachi, entered the coffee industry at 16 and spent 22 years with Agricafe, one of Bolivia’s leading producers, before establishing Nayra Qata in 2019. The name means “to be the first” in Aymara. The mill processes and manages coffee from small-scale producers, bringing it to the international market. As one of the few channels connecting smallholders to buyers in Bolivia, Nayra Qata is expanding the reach of high-quality microlots through careful processing and a commitment to integrity.

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