THE BITTER-IST A new-style beer that combines a refreshing, bold bitterness, a clean, bitter aroma, and a crisp, clean finish that fades away quickly. Its punchy flavor appeals to the discerning palates of discerning adults.
1_Good Walking Ueda
PROFILE
After performing as part of a comedy duo and as a solo act, he formed Goodwalkin with his classmate Ryohei in 2015. In 2017, he began producing his original embroidered caps, “goodwalkin,” as an “embroidery comedian.” He is also active as a “vintage clothing comedian” and a “sneaker comedian.” He is currently expanding his activities beyond the realm of traditional comedy.
Instagram: @goodwalkinueda
There’s nothing quite like the sense of togetherness that comes from everyone drinking the same beer—it’s simply irresistible.
—Mr. Ueda, you’re not only known as an embroidery comedian but also as a sneaker comedian and a vintage clothing comedian. How long have you been doing embroidery?
Ueda: This year marks my ninth year. Time has really flown by—I’ve been working so hard that I haven’t even noticed. I’ve been working on embroidery every single day since the day I started. At first, people often told me my work was “awkwardly charming,” but lately, they’ve been saying my skills have really improved (laughs).
—Wow! Not a single day missed!?
Ueda: No, no—people often tell me, “That’s amazing!” but adults all work every day, don’t they? It’s just that embroidery is the main focus of what I do (laughs).
—By the way, how many models do you make in a day?
Ueda: It takes about two hours to make just one cap, so I guess I can manage about three styles a day if I really push myself. Since I’m planning to tour the country with pop-up shops this year, I have to make them in advance, which is pretty tough. Honestly, there are days when I really want to take a break, but every day I tell myself, “No, don’t slack off now!”
—So, do most people stay at home?
Ueda:
Since I spend all day sitting at my desk in my room doing embroidery, I spend the vast majority of my time at home. I take a break to smoke a cigarette and clear my head, then psych myself up to get back to it.
Other than that, I’ve been playing *Winning Eleven* on the Nintendo DS lately. But since the game is about to be released, I’ve been holding off on it for now. On my days off, I sometimes go thrift shopping or grab a drink with my comedian friends.
—Which areas do you usually go to for thrift stores?
Ueda: I always check out the local vintage shops in Koenji, Shimokitazawa, and Machida, and whenever I go to other parts of the country for pop-up events, I make sure to stop by the local vintage shops there, too. The vintage shops I visited in London last year were great, too. I bought a bunch of band T-shirts.
—You have a lot of vintage clothes. Could you tell us which one is your favorite?
Ueda: I tend to buy similar things, and even though I already have plenty of plaid shirts, I still end up buying more (lol)
Ueda: Also, this black denim jacket from Euro Levi's is a piece that holds a special place in my heart—I had it embroidered at a Levi's event last year to commemorate the OASIS reunion. Plus, I really love my Gloverall duffle coat; the mint green color is so cute.
—By the way, I hear there are a lot of embroidery pop-up shops planned for this year.
Ueda: The shows currently scheduled are in Okayama, Fukuoka, and Niigata. After that, I plan to be traveling all over the country until October. Right up until the day of the show, I feel anxious and under pressure, wondering if anyone will actually show up, but once it starts, I have a great time every single time.
—I’m looking forward to the local food and drinks, too. By the way, how often do you drink, Mr. Ueda?
Ueda: About once a week, I guess. I usually have one as a reward when I’ve accomplished something.
—Do you ever go out for drinks with your fellow comedians?
Ueda:
I often hang out with people like Inoue from Non-Stop, the guys from Nego Six, and Murata from Toro Salmon. Lately, I’ve been seeing Hashimoto from Ginshari, too. We’ve known each other since our days in Osaka, so we’ve been friends for quite a while. While it’s common for people to drift apart as they get older, we’ve managed to stay close.
I really hope our friendship lasts forever. We just end up talking endlessly about our shared interests—vintage clothes, sneakers, soccer, and stuff like that.
—Do you ever drink at home?
Ueda: Sure, I will. Since I don’t cook, I’ll have a can of beer with some snacks I bought at the convenience store.
—What kind of beer do you like?
Ueda: I think the real appeal of beer lies in that distinctive bitterness, so I prefer beers with a strong bitter taste over fruity ones.
—Well, it sounds like you’ll really enjoy the taste of “The Vitalist” that you tried today!
Ueda: That was delicious. It had a bold, full-bodied mouthfeel, yet it was refreshing with a vibrant aroma and a distinct craft beer character—exactly the kind of taste I like.
Ueda: The bitterness hits you hard the moment you take a sip, so it seems like it would go great with meat dishes. By the way, just as an aside, I always make it a point to have beer whenever we toast at an izakaya. I love the sense of togetherness that comes from everyone there drinking beer together first. I think of beer as a drink that helps smooth out communication, so to speak.
—That’s a lovely way of putting it!
Ueda: The comedy world is a hierarchical society, so according to long-standing custom, you don’t let your true self show on the first drink. That’s my rule. Of course, after the second drink, I think it’s totally fine to let your true self shine through (laughs).
—The target audience for “The Vitalist” during its development phase was “adults who have experienced life’s ups and downs, including its bitter moments.” That sounds like a perfect fit for Ms. Ueda, who established herself as a seasoned comedian after years of hard work.
Ueda:
Is that so? I’ve had a little more breathing room lately, but I’ve also experienced the hardships of selling tickets by hand at small theaters and performing live shows—something I’ve been doing since my days in Osaka. And the trip to the UK I took last year was my first time traveling abroad.
I had another interesting encounter back then, too. One day, I was having a drink at a pub when a local guy walking by stopped to chat, and we ended up having a drink together. We toasted with that typical “Let’s start with a beer!” vibe (laughs). I can’t speak English at all, but we managed to communicate with broken English and lots of gestures, and we had a really good time.
—That’s exactly what we were talking about earlier: beer as a “communication tool”!
Ueda:
That’s right. Even when you’re with people you don’t know, once you have a drink, things get lively and you can enjoy a good conversation. In that sense, my favorite vintage clothes and sneakers are kind of similar, aren’t they? A conversation starts with “Where did you get that outfit?” and from there, things really take off and you end up becoming friends.
People who share the same passions really hit it off quickly, don’t they? We could talk for hours about the things we love. I think “The Vitalist” is the perfect beer for people like us who share those tastes. I’d love to raise a glass every time a pop-up event wraps up.
-What are your goals for the future?
Ueda: Thankfully, our pop-up events in Japan have started attracting a lot of international visitors. Even when we can’t communicate in words, seeing them get excited when they watch me embroider right there on the spot really makes me happy. With expanding overseas as my current goal, I’ll keep sewing away, one stitch at a time!
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