Meet Ryan Hashimoto | Found of Shonen Soda

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ryan Hashimoto and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ryan, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
My name is Ryota Hashimoto but I go by Ryan Hashimoto. I was born and raised in Tokyo, Japan but moved to San Francisco, CA at around 9 years old. Upon immigrating, I immediately noticed that the variety of soda flavors I was used to was missing. I wanted to create a beverage brand of my own to bring some of the “Nostalgic Japanese Crème Soda” to the western market and enlighten the palates of beverage enthusiasts. It has been my childhood dream to create and sell what I love, which happened to be cream sodas. I was a sophomore in college when I founded Shonen Soda. “Shonen” literally translates to “boy” or “youth” in Japanese. More commonly, the term Shonen is used in parallel with manga and anime in Japan that target this younger teen demographic. I thought the word, “Shonen” was fitting because it reminds me of when I dreamed about making a soda company when I was a little boy. I also love anime and manga so it just fit perfectly with me.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Shonen Soda stands out as one of the few cream soda brands in the United States, drawing inspiration from Japanese flavors and aesthetics to create a unique beverage experience. We offer three distinctive flavors: Banana Crème, Orange Crème, and Elderberry Crème, each crafted with attention to taste and quality. I founded Shonen Soda at the age of 19 (sophomore in college), with little knowledge of business operations or about the complex beverage industry. The journey was filled with challenges and learning curves, but through perseverance, valuable connections, and the support of many, I was able to navigate the complexities of establishing a brand. Shonen Soda may still be a very small brand, but we are passionate about sharing our creations with the world and are working diligently to expand our reach.
I am particularly proud and excited to announce that we have recently secured a distribution deal and are in the process of planning a nationwide launch. We aspire to connect with soda enthusiasts and anyone with an interest in or love for Japanese pop culture, fostering a community where people can relish what they love and explore new cultural dimensions. I want the people to know the beauty of cultural exchange and mutual appreciation.
We invite everyone to join us on this flavorful journey and to experience the unique and delightful blends that Shonen Soda has to offer.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I went to a college in Orange County, so I would definitely take them to the Happiest Place on Earth, Disney Land. Spend a day there, and for food, I’d either take them to Korea town or Newport Beach. Those two places were where my favorite restaurants existed so either those two for sure. The bars in Newport, and clubs in LA are the most entertaining so those would be my go-to drinking places. I think Universal Studios is pretty underrated so I’d honestly might take my friends there.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Shoutout to my mom and my partners of Shonen Soda.

Website: https://shonensoda.com/

Instagram: Shonensoda

Facebook: Shonen Soda

Image Credits
@negativesbynardi (Instagram) – Shonen Photographer