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In the beginning of Edo era, on the scenic spot overlooking the Uji river along the road which lead to Nara from Kyoto, Sugimoto family started tea manufacturing business which has been handed down from generation to generation for over 350 years until today.
The landscape has changed greatly with the passage of time but our family has stayed in the very same place dedicated as ever to the profession of manuafacturing Uji green tea.

The History of SHOHOKUEN

1645		Tea business was started
1868		Business structure was modernized by separating capital from management.
1880		Won the second prize at National Agricultural Fair. Were rewarded 30 Yen (equivalent to the current value of 30 million yen or about 300,000 USD today) by the minister of Domestic Affairs, Hirobumi Ito.
1914		Started dealing with Mitsukoshi department store. One of the first two food items sold at department stores in Japan. Dried bonito called Katsuobushi is the other. Food section of Mitsukoshi department store was established the following year.
1934		Were awarded the first prize at the national Tea contest for our GYOKURO.
1935		Established SHOHOKUEN Incorporated.
1988		Won the Minister of Agriculture prize at the 11th competitive exhibition of Uji Tea for our GYOKURO.
1995		Commemorated 350th anniversary of the foundation of the busienss and the 60th of the establishment of SHOHOKUEN Inc.