For over fourteen generations, Shohokuen has been entrusted with the time-honored task of cultivating Japanese tea from the fields of Uji City, Kyoto, the birthplace of the tea tradition in Japan. While remaining true to traditional practices, it is our aim to meet the evolving demands of a product that is a veritable cornerstone of Japanese culture. Within a changing society, our goals have remained the same for over three-hundred years: To create tea of the highest caliber, to culturally enhance the lives of our customers, and to foster a new tea culture in tandem with the changing times.
At Shohokuen, we have proudly been making Uji tea for over 350 years at Kohata, Uji in Kyoto. Situated on the main road that connected Nara to Kyoto in the early years of the Edo period, and adjacent to the Uji River, Kohata is said to be the birthplace of tea manufacture in Japan.
Award Won for Excellence at the First National Agricultural Fair
1910: Shohokuen Featured in "Representative Japan," a Publication Commemorating the Japan-British Exhibition That Same Year
| 1645 | Tea manufacture began. |
|---|---|
| 1868 | Business structure modernized by separating capital from management. |
| 1878 | Won the "Dragon Crest Award" at the 1st National Industrial Exposition of Japan. |
| 1880 | Won the second prize at the National Agricultual Fair. Awarded 30Yen(equivalent to the current value of 30million yen or 300,000USD today) by the Minister of Domestic Affairs, Hirobumi Ito and the Finance Minister, Shigenobu Okuma. |
| 1882 | Won a silver medal at the Kyoto Exposition and the first prize at the 2nd National Industrial Exposition of Japan. |
| 1889 | Won the first prize at the Japan Farmer's Society National Fair. |
| 1891 | Won the prize at the 3rd National Industrial Exposition of Japan. |
| 1896 | Won the first prize at the 4th National Industrial Exposition of Japan. |
| 1913 | Won the first prize at the Kyoto Tea Association Fair. |
| 1914 | Began paetnership with Mitsukoshi department store, making Uji tea one of the first two foods items sold at department stores in Japan.(Dried bonito or Katsuobushi is the other.) Mitsukoshi opened a food section in their stores the following year. |
| 1934 | Won the first prize at the National Tea Contest for our Gyokuro. |
| 1935 | Established Shohokuen, Incorporated. |
| 1988 | Won the Miniser of Agriculture Prize at the Ujicha Exposition for our Gyokuro.。 |
| 1995 | Commemorated 350th anniversary of the foundation of the business and the 60th anniversary of the establishment of Shohokuen, Inc. |
| 2002 | Won the Minister of Agriculture Prize at the Ujicha Exposition for our Sencha. |
| 2006 | Certfied Organic JAS(Main factory) |
| 2010 | Certified ISO22000(Main factory) |
| 2015 | Won the Platinum Prize at the Japan Tea Award for our Sencha. |
| 2016 | Won the Platinum Prize at the Japan Tea Award for our Sencha. |
| 2017 | Won the Japan Tea Cetnral Association Prize for our Gyokuro and the Platinum Prize for our Sencha at the Japan Tea Award. |
| 2018 | Won the Fine Product Prize at the Japan Tea Award for our Gyokur Won the Gold madal at the Global Tea Championship for our Matcha. |
| 2019 | Certified FSSC22000(Main Factory). Won the Fine Product Prize at the Japan Tea Award for our Gyokuro. Won the Silver medal at the Global Tea Championship for our Gyokuro. |
Workers in Formal Clothes Picking Leaves for the Celebration
| In 1915, when Emperor Taisho ascended to the throne, a grand celebration was held at the imperial court. The most esteemed products from all over Japan were selected for this special occasion, and Shohoken tea was chosen from among countless manufacturers to be served at the imperial table. This distinguished honor made Shohokuen a household name, and the quality of our tea became recognized nationwide. |  |
Original Signboard Indicating Where the Ceremonial Tea Was Made |
At Shohokuen, our simple mission is to provide our customers with excellent, aromatic teas that enrich their lives. We follow the time-honored tradition of Isshin Sannyou, or “picking three leaves from one sprig." In early summer, when leaves have sprouted in great number, we pick only the youngest three on top leaving the rest on their sprigs, a timeless practice that has always ensured the highest quality of tea. Our factory strictly adheres to ISO22000, an international food safety standard that guarantees every product we bring to the marketplace is done so with dedicated reverence for safety and hygiene. These values have been cornerstones of the Shohokuen tradition since the day our company was founded.
Maintaining the age-old practices of Ujicha, We are fostering new standards for quality that will become the traditions of tomorrow. Past, present and future, only the finest teas will ever bear the Shohokuen name.
From times of old to the present day, the satisfaction of our customers has always been our greatest pleasure.
