The Japanese tea shop Jugetsudo

Our 165-year history
Maruyama Nori was founded in 1854–at the end of the Edo period–in the Nihonbashi district of Tokyo and carried out the wholesale trade of dried seaweed. Our founder, Hikobei Tsushima, established the firm under the name of Kawaguchiya, bringing us to the beginning of the history of our company. In those days, nori seaweed was kept in ceramic jars. Our founder, Hikobei Tsushima, introduced the white-iron box, which was the packing used for imported Chinese products. He improved these boxes in order to better adapt them for the preservation and transportation of nori seaweed. The ambitious and enterprising spirit of our founder is still present today at Maruyama Nori. We are proud when we see that our nori seaweed, chosen with the greatest care, is the favorite choice of some three thousand sushi bars, as well as many other professionals from the food sector in Japan. As for example, “Sukiyabashi Jiro” which received 3 stars in the Michelin Guide Tokyo, as well as 10 of the 15 sushi shops that received stars as well, are using our products.

Maison Jugetsudo
Since 1980 we have also been supplying superior quality tea under the brand name of Jugetsudo. Inheritor of 160 years of tradition, and uncompromising on product quality, we would like to convey to our customers by means of tea and nori, the particular spirit of Japanese cuisine, authentic values and delicate flavors.

The meaning of the name Jugetsudo
From ancient times, the Japanese have been attuned to the worship of nature, knowing how to savor its beauty, as for example, the view of the moon rising in the sky and glowing onto the mountain slope, reflecting in the water... While contemplating this backdrop, they would write poems and have tea, and present offerings to the full moon at harvest time... Jugetsudo means “the place from where one looks at the moon.”

At the time of founding Jugetsudo, we had in mind this sentiment towards nature–so particular to the Japanese heart–of deeply savoring the existence and the passing of the seasons. We would like this place to put into practice and transmit the art of Japanese tea.