Brand Story
In 1960, my grandfather used the word “Sho” from this “Sho Chiku Bai” and made his first traditional confectionary mochi store in Shizuoka city called “Sho Ho Dou” 松芳堂
This store has been a massive part of my life growing up in Shizuoka, Japan and became well known and loved by locals in the city. The traditional mochi sweets and traditional Shizuoka “oden” were always enjoyed along with our local Shizuoka sencha green tea.
With age, my grandparents retired at the age of 80 and Sho Ho Dou came to the end of its era. With the deep meaning and selection of the words by my grandfather and to enhance good fortune and relations in business, I have taken “Sho” from his store name and made our tea brand Matsu.
“Matsu” means “Pine Tree” in Japanese. The great pine tree is symbolic in Japan as good fortune and prosperity. The Japanese Kanji symbol of Matsu 松 is part of a saying “Sho-Chiku-Bai” 松竹梅 meaning prosperity, good fortune, good business, good relations.
“Sho” 松 is another way of reading and expressing the Japanese Kanji word “Matsu”
Shizuoka is renown for Japanese tea. It is the furthest point of the island of Japan that cultivates tea.
With our family background in green tea farming in the renown Kawane region of Shizuoka, we are specialists when it comes to Japanese matcha and tea.
Japanese matcha and tea is grown in specific regions of Japan, starting from Shizuoka, Kyoto, Kagoshima, Fukuoka, Mie.
Our manufacturing plant proudly produces over 500 Tonne of tea a year for both the domestic Japanese market and our overseas market.
Our overseas head quarters is in Sydney, Australia, and new branch soon to be in Singapore for the Asian market. However we export globally including our south east asian clients, Dubai UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia.
Specialising in OEM, we are here to support you to build and promote your own retail brand.