To Everyone in the Craft Beer Industry

About Me

👨‍💻 Koki Riho

An engineer who brings ideas to life – from IT infrastructure to generative AI

While working as an IT engineer, I’m also passionate about sharing information about the craft beer world. Following my motto “immediate action on inspiration,” my blog has maintained the #1 position on Google for “craft beer blog” (in Japanese) for over a year.

I’ve earned a Japanese beer judging certification and participated in the 2024 JGBA (Japan Craft Beer Competition) as a new judge. I’ve visited over 200 breweries and created more than 500 detailed tasting notes. I’m also working on AI solution development using Azure and technology trend research. Currently working remotely from Seattle, USA, I’m learning about American beer culture while continuing to share information through my blog and social media. I have deep respect for brewers’ passion and craftsmanship.

📝 My Passion — Interest in Craft Beer and AI

I became interested in both craft beer and AI because I started thinking about creating an environment where brewers can make the beer they truly want to make.

I once met a brewer at a brewery with truly delicious farmhouse ales who told me, “IPAs sell the best, so I make them for revenue.” Those heartfelt words made my chest tighten. And when I heard someone say, “That brewery didn’t leave an impression on me” after only trying their IPA, frustration welled up inside me.

I want to create a world where each brewer’s individuality is more accurately conveyed. I hope for a system where beer uniquely possible at a particular brewery is appreciated, rather than just beer that sells well.

Leveraging my knowledge as a professional engineer, I’m learning about AI possibilities and applications, sharing information through my blog and social media. I believe AI is not just an efficiency tool but a means to expand creativity and share specialized knowledge.

🔧 Experience & Skills

• Current Position: IT Engineer / Consultant at NEC
  • Windows Server maintenance
  • Active Directory diagnostics
  • Dump file analysis
  • Trend research on emerging technologies
  • PoC and implementation support for AI solutions using Azure resources
• Tech Stack:
  • Infrastructure: Windows Server, Active Directory
  • Web Development: Node.js, Python, WordPress, Swift
  • AI Technologies: Text generation / Image generation / GPT API integration
  • Cloud: Netlify (Web deployment), Azure OpenAI, Azure AI Document Intelligence, etc.
• Certifications:
  • Japanese Beer Judge Certification
  • AZ-104: Azure Administrator Associate
  • AI-102: Azure AI Engineer Associate
  • Master’s Degree (Engineering)
  • Fundamental Information Technology Engineer Examination
  • Java Certification Level 2
  • TOEIC 800
• Education:
  • Okayama University Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology (2021)
  • Tokushima University, Department of Intelligent Information Engineering (2019)
  • Anan National College of Technology, Department of Control Information Engineering (2017)
• Career History:
  • April 2021: Joined NEC
  • November 2024~: Working in the United States
• Activities:
  • NPO EdTech Tokushima Youth – Founder & Representative (2017~)
  • Craft Beer Blog “Riho’s Beer Diary” – Owner (2022~)

💻 Personal Projects

1. portfolio-manager

Overview: Web application for managing investment portfolios

Background and Challenge:
Every month, I was manually calculating how much to invest in each stock, which was inefficient. So I developed an app that automatically calculates deposit amounts taking into account exchange rates and stock prices. Securities companies’ apps didn’t have this feature.

Key Points:

• Browser-based app hosted on Netlify (mobile compatible)
• Obtains stock prices from multiple data sources, supporting asset allocation visualization and rebalancing calculations
• Features fee and dividend analysis functions
• Planning to implement Google account integration

2. SoundMixer

Overview: iPad app for presenting sound stimuli for children and people with developmental disorders

Background and Challenge:
Created in 2017 while serving as representative of NPO EdTech Tokushima Youth. Led a team of two members as a leader to drive development. There was a need for a support tool to help calm children and people with developmental disorders during panic or excitement through appropriate sound stimuli.

Key Points:

• Outcome of the “Sound Stimulus Conditions for Inducing Calm-down in Children with Developmental Disorders” research project supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant (No. 26590266)
• Simultaneous playback of multiple sound sources with individual adjustment of volume, pitch, and playback position
• Metronome function with visual animation for rhythm expression
• Integration with brain wave sensing headbands and heart rate monitoring devices
• Development experience with Swift/iOS

3. beer-affiliate-engine

Overview: Affiliate site construction engine for beer-related content

Background and Challenge:
Since the travel genre was the most profitable for my blog, I developed a system to automatically generate affiliate links from article content to maximize profitability.

Key Points:

• Streamlines product data aggregation and link generation
• Simplifies affiliate integration for site operators

🌐 My Website

rihobeer.com
WordPress media dedicated to craft beer

• Responsible for all aspects: WordPress design, deployment, content creation, and rental server management
• Maintained #1 position on Google search for “craft beer blog” (in Japanese) for over a year (April 2024~)
• Write articles personally and use AI to automate/optimize the following:
  • Error correction
  • Fact-checking
  • SEO optimization (search traffic analysis, keyword optimization)
  • Automatic thumbnail image generation
• The driving force behind the operation is the desire to contribute to the beer industry

🚀 Future Vision

In the future, I’d like to challenge myself in the following areas:

• Building development support agents that combine generative AI × no-code
• Expanding the user base of self-made apps and establishing monetization models (e.g., public release of portfolio-manager)
• New content generation with craft beer × AI and advanced automated ad insertion algorithms
• Participation in AI utilization projects in collaboration with global teams (capable of communicating in English)

🍺 Thoughts on AI and Craft Beer

From my perspective with expertise in both craft beer and IT, I’m exploring the possibilities AI brings to the beer industry:

Potential for Coexistence Between Brewers and AI

• Integration of Craftsmanship and Technology: The possibility of a future where brewing traditions and technology coexist
• New Forms of Information Sharing: AI as an option for more widely conveying brewers’ intentions
• Respecting the Craft Spirit: AI doesn’t replace brewers’ knowledge or techniques but is a tool with the potential to spread their value

Intersection of Industry Knowledge and AI

• Understanding Specialized Terminology: The potential for AI to learn industry-specific terms like beer styles, hop varieties, and brewing processes
• Expanding Tasting Expressions: Exploring new methods of expression by combining insights as a JCBA certified beer judge with AI
• International Perspective: Attempting to analyze craft beer cultures in both Japan and America with AI

Thoughts on the Future of AI and Brewing

• Knowledge Systematization: The possibility of organizing and analyzing vast amounts of craft beer information with AI
• Promoting International Exchange: Sharing brewing techniques and communication beyond language barriers
• New Forms of Creativity: New possibilities born from the combination of human creativity and AI’s analytical power

🍻 Examples of AI Utilization Ideas (Thoughts)

• Tasting Note Analysis: Discovering trends and characteristics from large amounts of tasting data
• Recipe Development Inspiration Support: Learning from past successes and gaining hints for new combinations
• Understanding Consumer Preferences: Identifying changes in consumer preferences and niche demands from review data
• Multilingual Communication: Translation and explanation tools to promote international beer culture exchange
• Future Possibilities: Creating new research fields that merge data science and craft beer expertise

📱 Contact

• X (formerly Twitter): @rihobeer2
• Instagram: @lobeerve
• Github: Rih0z
• Email: riho.dare at gmail.com
• Website: rihobeer.com

I’d be happy to connect with you about craft beer and AI technology!