About Us
Kaneka Kitagawa Tea is a tea refining wholesaler in Kanaya, Shimada, in central Shizuoka — one of the prefecture's most respected tea districts, set between the Makinohara plateau, the largest tea plantation in Asia, and the clear waters of the Oi River.
The company was founded in 1916 and incorporated in 1957. Four generations on, our work has not changed in essence: sourcing leaf, blending it, and firing it.
What we actually do
We are not growers. We are a saisei wholesaler — we take crude tea from producers across Japan and turn it into a finished product with a consistent, repeatable character. Three things decide the result.
Sourcing. Local Shizuoka leaf first, then selected leaf from across Japan, plus blending materials such as herbs and fruit. We buy for the season, not to a fixed recipe.
Blending. Combining the characteristics of different leaves so that a tea tastes the same next year as it does this year — and so that a new blend can say something a single-origin leaf cannot.
Firing (hi-ire). This is where we are least willing to compromise. The roast is what draws aroma and body out of the leaf, and it is judged by hand and by nose, not by a timer. On humid days the line stops. It is the reason our tea tastes the way it does, and it is the part of the craft that does not transfer to a spreadsheet.
Recognition
Our work is judged by our peers, in the competitions that carry weight in Shizuoka.
- 2007 — Grand Prix, Shizuoka Tea Refining Technique Competition; Governor's Prize, Shizuoka Tea Competition
- 2008 — Governor's Prize, Kanaya Tea Competition; 2nd and 3rd place, Shizuoka Tea Competition
- 2006 — Governor's Prize and Director-General's Prize (Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries), Shizuoka Tea Competition; Governor's Prize, Kanaya Tea Competition
- 2004 — Governor's Prize, Shizuoka Tea Competition
- 2013 — Shimada City Chamber of Commerce President's Prize, Kanaya Tea Competition
- 2014 — Shimada City Tea Industry Promotion Association President's Prize, Kanaya Tea Competition
The 2007 Grand Prix was awarded for refining technique specifically — the firing and finishing work described above.
Company details
| Name | Kaneka Kitagawa Tea Co., Ltd. (カネカ北川製茶株式会社) |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1916 |
| Incorporated | 1957 |
| Representative | Takao Kitagawa |
| Capital | JPY 10,000,000 |
| Business | Refining, processing and sale of tea |
| Head office | 1377-16 Kanaya Nikenya, Shimada, Shizuoka 428-0033, Japan |
| Tokyo office | co-lab Daikanyama, 9-10 Daikanyamacho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo |
| Tel | +81-547-46-3077 |
| contact@kaneka-kitagawa-tea.co.jp |
Corporate site: theteabarjapan.com
Beyond the leaf
Alongside wholesale and OEM production, we develop original blends and packaging for hotels, offices and retail brands, supply tea ware and serving equipment, and run a Japanese tea catering service for events and exhibitions.
If you are considering Japanese tea for your brand or your venue, see our wholesale and OEM guide or get in touch.