HAGIMURA SEICHA CO.,LTD.

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Company Profile

Pouring our heart into every cup of tea

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Image: Aerial photo of the expansive tea fields at Hagimura Seicha

Greetings

Pouring our heart into every cup of tea

In the historic Suizawa district of Yokkaichi City, we have preserved the traditional kabusecha and shaded cultivation methods passed down through generations, and we were the first to bring Ise Matcha* to market using time-honored techniques.
From our tea plantation spanning some 135 hectares, we grow and process tea leaves into matcha, kabusecha, and tencha green tea through an integrated production system, which is delivered to customers both in Japan and overseas.
We strive to produce tea that is both safe and of the highest quality by continuing to improve traditional tencha roasting furnaces and obtaining international certifications such as FSSC 22000. We also actively promote the spirit of Japanese hospitality to the world through the practice of tea ceremony.
Filled with heartfelt affection, and pride.
Our story begins with a single cup of tea, and continues to this day.

Koshi Hagimura, President and Representative Director

*Ise Matcha is made using 100% tea leaves grown in Mie Prefecture, and is prepared according to ISO-defined matcha production methods.
Ise Matcha was first launched in 1996 following the approval of Chairperson Takase of the Chamber of Tea Association of Mie Pref.
(“Matcha Suizawa” was released under an Ise Matcha label at the request of Kakuji Co., Ltd.)

Image: Company president, Koshi Hagimura, standing amidst a tea field

*Ise Matcha is made using 100% tea leaves grown in Mie Prefecture, and is prepared according to ISO-defined matcha production methods.
Ise Matcha was first launched in 1996 following the approval of Chairperson Takase of the Chamber of Tea Association of Mie Pref.
(“Matcha Suizawa” was released under an Ise Matcha label at the request of Kakuji Co., Ltd.)

President’s Background

2000 Obtained certification as a Nihoncha (Japanese tea) Instructor (first-year)
2001 Achieved first place in the Mie Prefecture Tea Instructor Tochakai (a tea tasting tournament where participants attempt to guess where a tea is from)
2012 Awarded second place at the 4th National Tea Judging Skills Competition held by the Nihoncha Instructor Association (Individual and Team categories)
2020 Certified as a Mie Prefecture Instructional Agricultural Specialist (from April)
2021 Torchbearer at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics
2024 Shihan Instructor in the Enshu Sado School

Management Philosophy

“Sharing the joy of delicious tea”

Guided by our motto, we are committed to improving our craft and delivering tea that brings genuine enjoyment to all.

“A life lived with tea”

We propose “A life lived with tea,” and strive to contribute to the development of a fulfilling society rich with joy and cheer.

“Material and emotional well-being of all employees”

We pursue “Material and emotional well-being of all employees,”
and contribute to a sustainable society for the betterment of the world around us,
the people in it, and local communities.

Business Objectives

Continue to deliver products trusted by customers,
founded on safety and peace of mind.
We strive to build a one-of-a-kind business.

Policy for achieving food safety/quality/
reducing food loss

１）
We are committed to ensuring product safety and enhancing quality, and continuously work to improve our operations by reassessing manufacturing and sales processes with a focus on quality while maintaining a robust food safety management system.
２）
Through a compliance-focused management approach, we will continue to build and maintain a system that prevents incidents caused by errors in the decision-making process, including the mislabeling of food.
３）
Through regular internal and external communication initiatives, we aim to promote operational efficiency throughout the food chain, enhance employee motivation, and cultivate a strong culture of food safety and quality.
４）
Through ongoing education and periodic evaluations of employee capabilities, we ensure appropriate competencies in support of the achievement of our goals and the advancement of food safety and quality.
５）
We streamline production operations and work to minimize food loss as part of efforts to contribute to a sustainable society.
Image: Checking tea leaves for food safety and quality control

Awards

Kabusecha
1st prize
49th Kansai Tea Industry Competition
Chairman of the 49th Kansai Tea Industry Promotion Conference
Kabusecha
3rd prize
29th Ise Tea Competition
Chamber of Tea Association of Mie Pref.
33rd Japan Agricultural Award
NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) Tsu Broadcasting Station
JA Mie Chuokai

Company Profile

Company name
HAGIMURA SEICHA CO.,LTD
Address
3285 Suizawa-cho, Yokkaichi-shi, Mie, Japan 512-1105
TEL
+81 59-329-2204
FAX
+81 59-329-2460
Operating hours
Monday to Saturday
8:00~17:00
Founded
March 1962
(Company established in 1982)
Annual sales
Approx. ¥1 billion (as of 2025)
President and Representative Director
Representative Executive Director
Koshi Hagimura
Kazuki Hagimura
No. of employees
Approx. 35 (regular employees)
Image: Company exterior Image: Plant machinery lining the factory floor

Company History

  • 1962
    (Showa 37)
    Began tea production from a 3.5-hectare tea field
  • 1975
    (Showa 50)
    Expanded factory capacity to 120K units across two production lines
  • 1982
    (Showa 57)
    Established a corporation for the manufacturing and sales division
  • 1988
    (Showa 63)
    Commenced mail-order sales
  • 1992
    (Heisei 4)
    Established a cold-storage warehouse facility
  • 1996
    (Heisei 8)
    Established a stone milling facility
  • 1998
    (Heisei 10)
    240K 4-2-3 line newly installed
  • 2000 (Heisei 12)
    Opened the Kirara retail store
  • 2002
    (Heisei 14)
    Tencha processing facility, 3 production lines
  • 2012
    (Heisei 24)
    Expanded the auto-rack cold storage warehouse facility
  • 2015
    (Heisei 27)
    Obtained JGAP certification/Mie Selection “Match Suizawa” certification
  • 2015
    (Heisei 27)
    “Matcha Oku-Kirara” was selected for the G7 2016 Ise-Shima Summit (matcha tea selected for the Summit)
  • 2016
    (Heisei 28)
    Provided products for the G7 2016 Ise-Shima Summit
  • 2017
    (Heisei 29)
    Obtained ASIAGAP certification (GFSI certification)
  • 2018
    (Heisei 30)
    Expanded facility to include two tencha lines (main furnace)
    Airflow-type pulverizer (Kawasaki Kiko Co., Ltd.)
    Stone milling facility (Shimizu Steel and Machinery)
  • 2018
    (Heisei 30)
    Obtain Mie Brand certification (Isecha, Matcha)
  • 2019
    (Reiwa 1)
    Supplied Kabusecha and Sencha to the Imperial Household Agency for presentation at the Daijosai
  • 2023
    (Reiwa 5)
    Obtained FSSC22000・ISO22000 certification

Facilities

Honshiki Tencha-ro
(traditional drying furnace)

Kyoto-style Tencha lines x 2 lines (installed in 1996/cooperative factory)

Proprietary Tencha lines x 3 lines (expanded in 2002)

Proprietary Tencha lines x 2 lines (expanded in 2011)

Proprietary Tencha lines x 4 lines (expanded in 2013)

Proprietary Tencha lines x 2 lines (expanded in 2019)

13 production lines in total (largest number of production lines in Japan)

(Production capacity per line: 70~100 kg of fresh tea leaves/hour)

Processing plant

Finishing line including a multi-function final processing unit

Electronic color sorters x2

Far-infrared roasting machine

Drum roasting machine

Among other facilities

Green tea (kabusecha, mogacha, sencha) plant

Kawasaki Kiko 240 tk x 1 line

(Production capacity: 1 ton of fresh tea leaves/hour)

Matcha plant

Airflow-type pulverizer/ball mill

12x stone mills/particle size analyzer/near-infrared analyzer

Sterilization plant

Kawasaki Kiko sterilization machines x2 lines

Cold-storage warehouse plant

5 buildings