NARRATIVE | 物語
Toshi and Shohei, co-founders and former teammates of their Uji high school American football team, share a deep connection to Japanese tea. Toshi’s family has cultivated tea in Wazuka for over 300 years, but lost much knowledge after his great-grandfather’s early death and Japan’s rapid economic growth. Experiencing life and entrepreneurship in Silicon Valley and New York, Toshi was inspired to revive his heritage, blending tradition with innovation. Shohei, formerly in finance, was drawn to tea’s wellness potential and to addressing the challenges facing local producers, including succession issues and low incomes. Together, they leverage international experience, analytical skills, and a shared passion for craft to produce single-origin matcha with depth and nuance, connecting discerning customers to authentic Japanese tea while promoting sustainable growth and inspiring the next generation of tea producers.
LOCATION
生産地
Located in southern Kyoto, Wazuka Town—renowned as a “tea homeland”—joined the “Most Beautiful Villages in Japan” in 2013 and was designated a Japan Heritage site in 2015. Praised for its scenic tea fields, traditional tile-roofed villages, and centuries-old tea culture, Wazuka’s forests, river mist, and large day-night temperature swings produce aromatic, umami-rich tea leaves. The town supplies about 51% of Kyoto’s tencha and 47% of crude tea, making it a core hub of Uji matcha production.
