Company Profile
From Kyoto to Edo.
From Nihonbashi to the World.
| Company Name | Yamamotoyama Co., Ltd. |
|---|---|
| Head Office | 11F Nihonbashi Takashimaya Mitsui Building, 2-5-1 Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo |
| Founded | April 1690 (Genroku 3) |
| Established | May 7, 1941 |
| President | Nami Yamamoto |
| Number of Employees | 86 (19 Male, 67 Female) |
| Main Business Activities | * Product development and retail of tea and tea-based products * Product development and retail of nori (seaweed), nori-based products, and other food items * Import and export of tea and nori * Dining operations * Real estate leasing (buildings and office spaces) * All other operations incidental to the above |
Map & Locations
Head Office
11F Nihonbashi Takashimaya Mitsui Building,
2-5-1 Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
03-3271-3361 (Main)
Main Store
1F Nihonbashi Takashimaya Mitsui Building,
2-5-1 Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
03-3271-3273 (Main)
Yamamotoyama Fujie Sabo
Group Companies
- UJIDO
- Yamamotyama USA: Yamamotoyama USA proudly shares Japanese Tea, Nori, and Soy Wraps to American consumers for over 50 years.
UJIDO: Ujido brings authentic, premium matcha from the birthplace of matcha in Kyoto.
- Yamamotoyama Brazil
- Even in Brazil—situated on the exact opposite side of the globe from Japan—Yamamotoyama’s heartfelt connections and shared "Spirit" continue to flourish. Yamamotoyama Brazil operates a corporate office in São Paulo and owns a dedicated tea estate in São Miguel.
Freshly harvested tea leaves are immediately processed to preserve their utmost vitality and flavor, delivering exceptional tea not only to our customers within Brazil but also to dining tables across South America, the United States, and the rest of the world. Across lands with vastly different climates, terroirs, and customs, Yamamotoyama is honored to bring smiles to faces globally through our tea and nori—traditional flavors deeply cherished and nurtured by the Japanese people.
- Yamamotoyama U.S.A.
- Delivering the Spirit of Japan to the World
Yamamotoyama has expanded its horizons far beyond Japan, pioneering markets overseas in countries such as the United States and Brazil. We continuously develop and refine our products, pursuing a high-quality, new expression of "traditional flavor" that resonates with the diverse palates of people worldwide. It is our deepest hope to deliver the world-class flavors and profound culinary culture of Japan—the very "Spirit of Japan"—to hearts across the globe.
Based in Los Angeles, Yamamotoyama U.S.A. manufactures a wide variety of teas—including Japanese green tea, which continues to garner global attention as a wellness beverage across the Americas, Europe, and Asia, alongside premium Chinese, black, and herbal teas. Furthermore, we process the high-quality nori essential to the worldwide appreciation of sushi. Through the global distribution of our tea and nori from this Los Angeles hub, we are sharing our traditional flavors with people of diverse culinary backgrounds.
Additionally, in Portland, Oregon, we established The Stash Tea Company, a specialized purveyor of herbal and black teas focused primarily on the U.S. market. Under the "Stash Tea" brand, we are proud to introduce a vibrant array of teas from every corner of the globe to our customers, guided by our unifying theme: the "World of Tea."
History
| April 1690 (Genroku 3) | Founded in Edo The first Kahei Yamamoto opens a shop in Edo (present-day Tokyo), trading in tea and paper. |
|---|---|
| June 1738 (Genbun 3) | Introduction of Sencha Soichiro Nagatani from Ujitawara, Yamashiro Province, succeeds in producing green sencha. Recognizing its exceptional quality, Kahei Yamamoto names it "Tenkaichi" (Best under Heaven) and introduces it to the market. |
| Spring 1787 (Tenmei 7) | First Advertising Handbills Kahei Yamamoto of Toryuken, located in Nihonbashi 2-chome, issues promotional handbills (Hikifuda) as an established tea merchant. |
| 1816 (Bunka 13) | Appointed Purveyor to the Shogunate The Yamamoto family establishes its formal house rules. Appointed as the official tea purveyor to the Hitotsubashi family and the main castle of the Tokugawa Shogunate. |
| 1830 (Bunsei 13) | Expansion of Shogunate Purveyorship Serves as the official tea purveyor to the Shogunate's West Citadel, Toeizan (Kan'eiji Temple), and the Gosankyo (the three privileged branches of the Tokugawa clan: Tayasu, Hitotsubashi, and Shimizu). |
| Spring 1835 (Tenpo 6) | Invention of Gyokuro The 6th generation, Kahei Tokuo, invents Gyokuro tea at the Kinoshita family estate in Ogura, Uji. In January, the text Sencha Shojutsu (A Brief Account of Sencha) by Tokujun is published. |
| January 1846 (Koka 3) | The Great Fire of Edo The store is destroyed in the Hongo Maruyama fire, alongside the neighboring Shirokiya department store. |
| 1848 (Kaei 1) | Publication of Sencha Tebiki no Tane (A Guide to Sencha) by Tokujun. |
| Summer 1855 (Ansei 2) | Publication of Kyoka Chaki Zaishu (A Collection of Comic Tanka on Tea Utensils) by Tokuo. |
| December 1885 (Meiji 18) | Receives Tea Business License No. 2 from the Tokyo Prefectural Government. |
| May 1909 (Meiji 42) | Records retail sales of 2,000 kin (approx. 1,200 kg) of "Yamamotoyama" tea in a single day, sold at 50 sen per kin. |
| September 1923 (Taisho 12) | The Great Kanto Earthquake The main store, Fukagawa branch, and seven warehouses are completely destroyed by fire. |
| May 1941 (Showa 16) | Incorporation Reorganized as a corporation, establishing Yamamotoyama Co., Ltd. with a capital of 3 million yen. |
| March 1945 (Showa 20) | World War II Facilities are completely destroyed during the Great Tokyo Air Raids. |
| October 1946 (Showa 21) | Constructs a new two-story storefront in Nihonbashi. |
| 1947 (Showa 22) | Introduction of Nori Begins the sale of nori (seaweed). |
| May 1951 (Showa 26) | Construction of the Yamamotoyama Building is completed. |
| May 1963 (Showa 38) | Launches Japanese green tea bags. |
| 1966 (Showa 41) | Construction of the Shizuoka Factory. |
| 1970 (Showa 45) | Opens branches in Fukuoka, Osaka, Sapporo, and a sales office in Nagoya. |
| October 1970 (Showa 45) | Global Expansion to Brazil Establishes a local subsidiary in São Paulo, Brazil. |
| 1973 (Showa 48) | Construction of the Kumamoto Factory. |
| September 1975 (Showa 50) | Global Expansion to the U.S. Establishes a local subsidiary in Los Angeles, U.S.A. |
| June 1989 (Heisei 1) | Opens the Sendai sales office. |
| March 1990 (Heisei 2) | Kunichiro Yamamoto succeeds the name as the 9th generation Kahei. |
| May 1990 (Heisei 2) | 300th Anniversary Holds the ceremony commemorating the 300th anniversary of the company's founding. |
| July 1998 (Heisei 10) | Launches the Yamamotoyama website, named "Kokoro" (Heart). |
| April 2005 (Heisei 17) | Renews the website and launches the online store. |
| April 2018 (Heisei 30) | Renews product packaging designs. |
| June 2018 (Heisei 30) | Joins Les Hénokiens Becomes a member of Les Hénokiens, an international association of bicentenary family companies. |
| June 2018 (Heisei 30) | Renews the Yamamotoyama official corporate website. |
| September 2018 (Heisei 30) | Relocation & Opening of Fujie Sabo Relocates the head office to the 11th floor of the newly completed Nihonbashi Takashimaya Mitsui Building. Opens "Fujie Sabo" teahouse on the 1st floor facing Chuo-dori, on the exact site of Yamamotoyama's original founding. |
| August 2023 (Reiwa 5) | Kaichiro Yamamoto succeeds the name as the 10th generation Kahei. |
| October 2023 (Reiwa 5) | Nami Yamamoto is appointed as President and Representative Director. |