Masuhan-Chaten

Masuhan-Chaten (株式会社升半茶店) is a Japanese tea merchant headquartered in Nishiki 2-7-1, Naka-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture. Its origins trace to 1840 (Tenpō 11), when Hanzaburo I, the third son of the Hikohachi family of Masuya, was permitted by the Owari Domain to form a guild (kabunakama) for the sale of Uji tea and established a presence in Tenma-chō. The guild was dissolved in 1842, but the family's tea business continued and deepened: in 1883 (Meiji 16), Hanzaburo II set up his own tea plantation and tea-processing facility in Uji-Kohata in Kyoto Prefecture (present-day Kyoto City), allowing the house to produce and sell authentic Uji tea on an integrated basis. The modern company was established in January 1951 (Shōwa 26) by Hanzaburo IV. Today it operates as a tea retailer and wholesaler, with its main store and headquarters in the Nishiki district of central Nagoya. The company is known for its Uji tea, and it has also produced a commercial song, "Masuhan no Uta" (lyrics by Ken Shirahata, music by Shigeru Mori, arrangement by Shōsuke Ichikawa, sung by Harumi Miyako). In January 2022, construction began on a ten-story reinforced-concrete building with a store and co-residential units to serve as its main store. The company remains privately held and is led by Representative Director Nobuhiro Yokoi.

The history of Masuhan-Chaten begins in 1840 (Tenpō 11), when Hanzaburo I, the third son of the Hikohachi family of Masuya, received permission from the Owari Domain to organize a guild (kabunakama) for the sale of Uji tea and advanced into Tenma-chō. This guild was dissolved in 1842 (Tenpō 13), but the family's involvement in tea continued. In 1883 (Meiji 16), Hanzaburo II established his own tea plantation and tea-processing facility in Uji-Kohata, Kyoto Prefecture (present-day Kyoto City), enabling the house to carry out integrated production and sales of authentic Uji tea. The business was incorporated in January 1951 (Shōwa 26) by Hanzaburo IV, formally establishing the company. Over the decades that followed, Masuhan-Chaten maintained its position as a tea merchant based in Nagoya, with its headquarters and main store in the Nishiki district of Naka-ku. The company also created a commercial song, "Masuhan no Uta," with lyrics by Ken Shirahata, music by Shigeru Mori, arrangement by Shōsuke Ichikawa, and vocals by Harumi Miyako, reflecting its presence in the local market. In late January 2022 (Reiwa 4), construction began on a new main store building: a ten-story reinforced-concrete structure with a store and co-residential units. The company continues to operate as a privately held tea business under Representative Director Nobuhiro Yokoi, and it is documented in local reference works such as the Aichi Hyakka Jiten (1976).

• 2022

  Construction begins on new 10-story main store building in late January.

• 1951

  Company incorporated by Hanzaburo IV in January.

• 1883

  Hanzaburo II establishes own tea plantation and processing facility in Uji-Kohata, Kyoto.

• 1842

  The guild is dissolved.

• 1840

  Hanzaburo I permitted by Owari Domain to form a guild for Uji tea sales; enters Tenma-chō.

Long-established Nagoya tea merchant specializing in authentic Uji tea, combining tradition since 1840 with retail and wholesale operations.

• Uji tea

  Authentic Uji tea produced and sold by the company.

1. 1升半茶店オンラインショップ 会社概要masuhan.co.jp
2. 2升半茶店 - Wikipediaja.wikipedia.org
3. 3Masuhan-Chaten - Wikidatawikidata.org