Nishio, in Aichi prefecture, has been one of Japan’s principal centres of matcha production for more than 800 years. Known for its extensive tencha cultivation and favourable growing conditions shaped by river mist, mild climate and fertile soil along the Yahagi River basin, the region remains one of the country’s most important sources of leaf for high quality matcha. Local tradition traces the spread of tea in Nishio to Shouichi Kokushi of Jissouji Temple, establishing the area’s long association with tea cultivation and refinement.

Aoi Seicha carries a deeper historical lineage within this landscape. The company’s hollyhock crest, tachi aoi, is the emblem of the Honda family and closely linked to the Tokugawa era power structure. The Tokugawa shogunate defined Japan’s Edo period political and cultural life, and the Mitsuba Aoi became one of the most recognised symbols of authority and continuity in Japanese history. This connection places Aoi Seicha within a broader historical framework, reflecting not only regional tea expertise but a lineage tied to one of the country’s most influential periods.

The modern company was established in the early Taisho era when Honda Yasutaro reclaimed land in Nishio and began tea cultivation. Production remained largely manual until the 1930s, when the second generation introduced mechanisation and helped strengthen the reputation of Nishio tea. In 1955, Aoi Seicha won the Tencha division at the National Tea Competition in Nishio City, and for more than a century the company has remained one of the leading producers of Nishio matcha, supplying tea professionals and producers across Japan and internationally.

Our selection focuses on Aoi Seicha matcha chosen for depth, balance and clarity, representing the character and continuity of Nishio’s long matcha tradition.