Thriller Beach Brewery

Mugi, do you know there’s someone in Katsuura who converted an old pachinko parlor into a brewery? It’s called Thriller Beach Brewery.

Yeah. His name is Daijiro Kasakura. He used to work for an industrial manufacturer, but for 20 years he came to Katsuura every weekend to surf. Then visiting a winery in Yamanashi sparked his interest in craft beer as manufacturing, so he learned brewing at a brewery in Asakusabashi and went independent.

Exactly. Since he came to Katsuura’s sea with his family since elementary school, it’s a place he feels deeply connected to. What’s interesting is that when he was looking for a property, he insisted on a place where he could install a septic tank because 'letting wastewater flow straight into the sea doesn’t fit the purpose.' That says a lot about someone who loves the sea, doesn’t it?

Tairyō Ale, inspired by a fishing town, is low in bitterness and easy to drink. SUNSET SURFMAN, modeled after the evening view of the Budai Coast, a surf spot, is aromatic with a nice balance of sweetness and bitterness. And From Far East Malibu with Love has a melon-like sweet, juicy aroma. Even the names are packed with love for Katsuura.

And that’s not all. At the Féminalise World Wine Competition held in France in 2025, a beer called 'Wave and Aroma Session' won TOP OF THE BEST in the Japanese beer category. It’s Chiba Prefecture’s first top prize. It was selected in a blind tasting by women wine experts from around the world, out of 2,960 entries from nine countries.

That’s right. It’s the result of brewing partner Masafumi Yasuda and him pursuing quality together. Kasakura says, 'I want to make things that connect sideways rather than being completed within a single industry,' and as Katsuura’s first local beer bar, they also have a taproom.