The Story Behind Hokusan’s Tea Journey

Where the Journey Began

The story of Hokusan begins in Shizuoka, one of Japan’s most well-known green tea producing regions, and also where Rikko, the founder of Hokusan, grew up.

In Shizuoka, green tea is served daily at home and even at school. In fact, instead of water fountains, there are green tea fountains. 

Rikko’s brother, a Japanese tea sommelier, played an important role in inspiring her journey. Through him, she was exposed not only to tea production, but also to how deeply Japanese tea culture is rooted in craftsmanship, discipline, and tradition.

Surrounded by tea farms and a licensed sommelier, she grew up with Japanese green tea as a constant presence in her life, without realizing it would one day become her career.

One Person, One Warehouse

Hokusan began as a very small Japanese tea import business - just one person operating from a warehouse.

Every part of the business was handled manually. Packing tea products, managing shipments, and responding to early client inquiries. There were no systems, no team, and no established structure - only consistency, long working hours, and a strong focus on delivering authentic Japanese tea to every customer.

Building Trust Through Omotenashi 

In the early days of Hokusan, growth came from relationships rather than marketing.

Each client was carefully supported, with thoughtful attention given to every order. Over time, word of mouth and consistent quality helped establish long-term partnerships with cafes, restaurants, and retailers across Canada.

At the heart of this approach is omotenashi(wholehearted Japanese hospitality) where every interaction is handled with sincerity, attention, and care.

Growing to 600+ Partners Across Canada

Today, Hokusan works with over 600 partners across Canada.

This growth was not driven by scale alone, but by a consistent focus on:

• Maintaining direct connections with Japanese tea farmers

• Reliable sourcing of Japanese matcha and teas from Japan

• Omotenashi customer relationships

• Building long term trust with partners

As global demand for matcha continues to grow, Hokusan has evolved beyond a matcha supplier - becoming a bridge between Japanese tea farms and the Canadian tea market.

A Cultural Bridge Between Japan and Canada

What began as a small Japanese tea import operation has grown into a bridge connecting Japanese tea culture with a wide and growing community across Canada.

From a single warehouse to more than 600 business partnerships, the journey continues to be guided by one core mission: Bringing authentic Japanese tea experiences, and a moment of calm and connection, to more people around the world.

 

Rooted in omotenashi hospitality, we continue to support our partners with care and consistency. If you are looking for a matcha supplier in Canada, we welcome you to connect and explore how we can work together.