About Rishouen Tea
Founder Giichiro Kagata
About Rishouen Tea
Rishouen Tea Shop is a tea wholesaler whose origins date back to a tea retail store founded in 1947 by Giichiro Kagata, who was born into a family of tea farmers. From our founding to the present day, we have continued our business with the aim of sharing the fine aroma and character of Uji tea with a wider audience.
Using our highly developed tea-selection expertise, we carefully source tea leaves and blend them according to the individual character of each product. At the same time, we also offer many non-blended, single-origin teas that allow customers to enjoy the natural flavor of tea leaves from specific fields.
In recent years, matcha has become widely used as an ingredient in processed foods. However, as a traditional tea shop, we place the spirit of tea first and remain committed to preserving the authentic flavor of tea that should be passed on to future generations. Our entire team continues to refine our skills every day so that Rishouen Tea Shop will always remain a place where tea lovers gather, regardless of the era.
Our Commitment to Uji Tea
At Rishouen Tea Shop, we are committed to using Uji tea produced in Kyoto Prefecture. From matcha (tencha) to gyokuro, sencha, hojicha, and iribancha, tea has been cultivated throughout Kyoto Prefecture for centuries, each area producing tea suited to its local climate and soil conditions.
Uji tea, often regarded as the origin of Japanese tea culture, has developed alongside cultural traditions such as the tea ceremony and is now widely recognized around the world as a premium tea-producing region. Although the environment surrounding Japanese tea continues to change, we believe it is important to honor the thoughts and dedication of those who came before us and to preserve the aroma, flavor, and culture of Uji tea.
※ Please note that we clearly distinguish between “Kyoto Prefecture–produced tea” and “Japanese domestic tea (blended from multiple regions).”
Single-Field Tea that Expresses the Character of Its Origin
In recent years, tea preferences have gradually shifted from an emphasis on aroma to a stronger focus on flavor.
In response to this change, we are working to promote single-field teas, which are not blended and allow the unique character of each tea field to shine through.
Many factors influence the flavor of tea, including soil, cultivar, fertilization, harvest timing, shading, steaming, and processing methods. For sencha, kabusecha, gyokuro, matcha, and other tea varieties, we carefully select exceptional aracha (unrefined tea) that best expresses the characteristics of each tea type and introduce them as single-field teas.
For more details, please visit our Yahoo Shopping page.
We hope you will enjoy these exceptional teas, which Rishouen Tea Shop proudly offers.
Our Commitment to Safety and Quality
At Rishouen Tea Shop, we obtained Organic JAS certification in 2015 and FSSC22000 certification in 2022. Our entire staff is committed to strict quality and safety management to ensure that we can deliver products that customers can enjoy with confidence.
※Please note that organic certification applies only to certain products. Not all of our teas are organic. In addition to certified organic products, we also offer teas cultivated without pesticides, and we welcome inquiries regarding these options.
Message from the President
An Invitation ―
Japan is a unique land.A small island nation stretching from north to south, covered with steep mountain ranges and possessing only limited farmland.
Yet this country has been blessed with abundant soft water and clearly defined seasons, nurturing a distinctive view of nature and aesthetic sensibility rarely found elsewhere in the world.
Within this limited space, climates, landscapes, and ways of life overlap and coexist in countless variations.
Tea is also a symbol of this culture.At Rishouen Tea Shop, we listen carefully to the spirit of tea and respect both the places where tea is produced and where it is enjoyed.Without being swayed by trends or numbers, we select and deliver the tea that is most appropriate at any given moment.This is the unchanging commitment of Rishouen Tea Shop.
Tea itself is nature.Nature does not instruct people.It does not tell us what is right or wrong. It does not impose anything upon us. When we place ourselves within nature, we become quiet. In that moment, we let go—if only briefly—of the strength we use to protect ourselves. Tea simply creates a small space that allows us to return to the calmness that originally exists within every person.
First, please enjoy a cup of tea. A rich and harmonious society is our sincere wish. Tea was originally introduced from the Asian continent, yet in Japan it has evolved into something truly unique in the world. What exists today is Japanese tea and matcha—nothing added, nothing removed. It is a crystallization of Japan’s view of nature and its aesthetic sensibility.When we encounter tea, it quietly creates space for us to return to the gentle calm that lies within.
—Kissako (Have a cup of tea.)
Toward the Future.Within the long history of Japanese tea, the time in which Rishouen Tea Shop has been involved is only a brief moment. Yet even during this short period, tea has continued to evolve with refinement and maturity under Japan’s unique view of nature and aesthetics.Rishouen Tea Shop quietly looks ahead to the future that lies beyond this long tradition.
Koji Kagata
President & CEO Rishouen Tea Co., Ltd.
President & CEO Koji Kagata performing the Kuchikiri Ceremony at the Uji Tea Festival.
(Kuchikiri refers to the traditional opening of a tea jar in the tea ceremony tradition, marking the beginning of the new tea season.)
Tea Buyer & Blender
Naoki Kagata
Born in 1989.
He grew up around the family business, Rishouen Tea Shop, and from an early age was familiar with the work of the tea trade.
After graduating from Kyoto Prefectural University in 2012, he gained experience in another industry before joining Rishouen Tea Shop in 2014, where he began serious training in tea. Learning from experienced professionals in the tea industry as well as tea farmers, he developed advanced tea evaluation skills. Since his twenties, he has been responsible for tea purchasing and blending, creating unique teas for customers both in Japan and overseas.
In 2022, he independently launched “Japanese Tea & Gelato Kame Usagi,” overseeing everything from tea selection to recipe development. Through this project, he is working to introduce Japanese tea culture to a new generation of customers.
Awards & Achievements
| 2016 | 7th Place – Kyoto Prefecture Tea Evaluation Competition Japan Tea Awards (Matcha Category) – Platinum Award & Fine Product Award 3rd Place – National Tea Evaluation Competition |
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| 2017 | Japan Tea Awards – Fine Product Award (Open-field Sencha Category) |
| 2019 | Japan Tea Awards – Judges’ Encouragement Award (Open-field Sencha Category) |
| 2023 | 2nd Place – Kyoto Prefecture Tea Evaluation Competition |
| 2024 | 5th Place – Kyoto Prefecture Tea Evaluation Competition 6th Place – National Tea Evaluation Competition |
| 2025 | Winner – Uji City Team Tea Evaluation Competition 8th Place – Kyoto Prefecture Tea Evaluation Competition |
As of 2025: 8th Grade in National Tea Evaluation Skills.4th Grade in Kyoto Prefecture Tea Evaluation Skills He aims to become the first person of the Heisei generation to achieve 10th Grade in National Tea Evaluation Skills.
