All about "Magouemon"
The Japanese Tea Merchandiser

History of Magouemon is just equal to
the passion through many generations to seek
for the best Japanese green tea over 222 years.

"Magouemon"'s history
Magouemon's passion is our mission.

History of "Magouemon" for 234 years and more

Our founder, Magouemon always thought and lived for tea and founded the tea merchandising company "Magouemon" because of his passion and effort for tea. Regrettably, some parts of our company's record were burned, so we couldn't trace the exact year of the foundation. But according to the oldest record, "Magouemon" had already started its tea production in 1790 around the Mizushi-Area, a part of Jyoyo city in Kyoto prefecture. So our history is longer than 222 years and we are located in the same place until today.

We can talk about our founder Magouemon with some anecdotes, for example, he was always ready for going to work whenever it was required or he wanted to, so he wore his "Tabi" (Japanese traditional socks) all day long, even when he slept. This episode is an example how much our founder loved tea and his work.

After the founder Magouemon, the successive owners had inherited his dedication for tea. For example our 4th owner Bunjiro was decorated by the state for his services and efforts to develop the tea business in Kyoto.

Since the time of Magouemon, we've been keeping our motto, producing and supplying the best tea. Because of our commitment for this motto we can contribute to the improvement of technology for tea industry as well as for the society around us.

CEO History

  • Magouemon (1st/founder)
  • |
  • Magouemon (6th generation)
  • Bunjiro / 7th generation
  • Yasuo / 8th generation
  • Fumio / 9th generation
  • Hirofumi (current CEO / 10th generation)

"Honzu Matcha",
specialty of Magouemon

Our Plantation for Honzu-Matcha

Our Plantation for "Honzu-Matcha"

"Honzu Matcha" is a type of Matcha made by the "Honzu Layer Method" - one of the traditional methods of making Matcha (powdered green tea) since the "Azuchi-Momoyama period (approx. 1558-1600 CE)"

For this method, we don't use any chemical fabrics (Most of the tea farmers in Japan use them normally.), but natural material, dried reed and dried straw to cover above the tea fields with 2 layers so that the sunlight can fall so softly on the trees through these layers. During their growth under such limited sunlight, the tea leaves can stay soft, tender and get their clean and fairy taste
(As the photos show, the color of the leaves grown under these "Honzu Layer" layers are so vivid and impressively clean light green .)

Furthermore the flavor of the leaves can be slightly sweet and become even softer and more delicate comparing with the normal one. The strength of the "Honzu Layer Method" can be clearly certified that the tea products made by the "Honzu Layer Method" can dominate high ranking at the National Fair of Tea every year.

When we talk about the advantages of this traditional "Honzu Layer Method", we should also mention about its disadvantage which is its low productivity, for example.

The "Wara Furi (how to spread reed and straw evenly for making Honzu Layers)" method requires special techniques and wealth of experience, so that there are only some specialists in Japan who are skilled in this technique.

Because of these negative reasons, there are only a few tea farms, including us, making tea through this "Honzu Layer Method". But that's the why the Matcha made by this "Honzu Layer Method" can become more rare and precious.

Awards

We are pleased to announce that our "Ten-cha(loose tea leaves for making matcha)" was awarded "the Kyoto Governor's Prize" at the competition 2016 among the tea producers in Joyo area/Kyoto prefecture.
So we are one of the best producers for matcha in Kyoto in this year.Moreover, because Kyoto is well-known as the best tea-growing district in Japan. so it can mean...who knows.Anyway we really thank all the people around Magouemon for every kind support and continuous interests on our tea.

Narratives

1965: Magouemon built the first large-scaled tea factory in the south part of Kyoto. At that time, the  prefectural governor of Kyoto came to visit its factory because of its scale

And Today

Not only we take the historical and traditional rolls of the tea suppliers, but we've also been taking a new function as a developer for tea in every kinds of categories related with Japanese Tea.

A New Hit-Item from Our New Generation, Matcha-Soup

A New Hit-Item from Our New Generation, Matcha-Soup

We've created some hit items related with tea, like tea-bags for Matcha or soaps made from Matcha, called "Kyo-Matcha-Sekken".

Catechin (one of the components of tea) is still one of the hottest ingredients in the healthy foods and also in the beauty industry. Our special Matcha soaps are well-known and well-used in the beauty industry.

We also would like to liven up our tea business, so we've been promoting numbers of events for tea, like tea tasting events and some on-air programs through the local radio station in Kyoto.

Event Reports

25.SEP., 2014

Special event with the students at the Japanese school in Prague, a workshop for making a cup of Matcha by themselves, using our premium "Honzu-Matcha".

We, Magouemon attended the event as a members of the project unit "YUI" and offered them to learn about Matcha and also various kinds of Japanese traditional culture.

We are sure it’s very important for children what to show, hear, touch and taste during their childhood because they have big effects on being nice adults in the future. Like these kinds of workshops or lessons, we’d like to create more opportunities with children for teaching the culture of tea and our tradition to the next generation.

Supported by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

23.SEP.,2014

The 25th Anniversary Event of the Restaurant Fuji in Monaco

At the Restaurant Fuji in Monaco, attended as one of the main members of the unit "YUI".

Lots of celebrities in Monaco visited this event. Our Honzu-Matcha was in the list for welcome drinks and we also served Honzu-Matcha pairing with desserts at the end of their dinner.

21.SEP., 2014

Special dinner event, collaborated with the HANgout Restaurant in Nice

At the HANgout Restaurant in Nice / France, attended as a members of the project unit "YUI"

Lots of honored guests,including Mr. Gomakubo, the doyen of the consular body at the Japanese Consulate General in Marseilles, participated in this event. We provided our Honzu-Matcha as one of the ingredients for their dinner course. We also gave the guests lessons how to make Matcha tea easy at home. And we had tea-tasting with them, too.

28.OCT., 2013

Participation in the charity events "For the Children in Tohoku"

In UK

We taught the local people how to make a cup of Matcha. The event was very successful and well-visited so that their waiting time was temporally around 4 hours.

10.JUN.,2013

400th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between England and Japan

At the Stapleford Park Hotel (five-star hotel) /UK, attended as a member of the project unit "YUI".

100 nobilities and celebrities, including the British royal family members as well as the Bruneian royal family members were invited for this event. We Magouemon provided our Matcha for making welcome drinks and cocking dishes. We also served Matcha tea to the guests to enjoy it coupling with their desserts.

The History of Mizushi, Our Base

Our home town "Mizushi" has a very long history in the relation with our old "Mizushi-Shrine".

First of all, the name of "Mizushi" consists of two Kanji(Chinese Character) "Mizu(water)" and "Nushi(master)"

In the past, there was a dam named "Kurikuma-no-Oounade" in this area and lots of dam-workers lived with their family here, so it could be a reason why this area has been called "Mizushi-master of water" and their families had built this "Mizushi-Shrine" to enshrine their ancestors and the water god for expelling the weather disaster, like drought and flood.

So the Mizushi-Shrine has also its very long history. According to the records, it located in this area since 10th century and it was already well known and enshrined as the god of rain and water since that time. Even though it's quite small shrine, but 10 famous and legendary deities (including the God Amaterasuoomitama) who appeared in "Nihonshoki" (Chronicles of Japan) have been dedicated to this Mizushi Shrine, it was classified on a higher level of shrines, the same as Matsuo-Taisha-Shrine (Katsura/Kyoto) or Sumiyoshi-Taisha-Shrine (Sumiyoshi/Osaka).

Mizushi-Shrine