Shimodozono
下堂園
しもどうぞの
Family name of the founding family of our Japanese partner company (English: "Guardian of the Lower Temple Gardens")
When Markus Hastenpflug tasted a bowl of tea from Hiroshi Shimodozono at a trade fair over 27 years ago, it was clear that he had to bring this product to Germany. As a passionate tea drinker, he had already tested everything he could get his hands on on the German market in terms of green tea, but these flavours, this effect and this colour were new.
No wonder, green tea was still virtually unknown in Germany at the time and the question of organic tea was ridiculed in Japan. But it was clear from the start - it was either organic or not at all and we were extremely lucky to have found open-minded partners in the Shimodozono family, who were already involved in the subject themselves and were happy to take on this challenge. This shared conviction resulted in the best green organic quality and a strong partnership.
Company founder Minoru Shimodozono with a customer in front of the newly opened shop in 1954.
Minoru's son Hiroshi Shimodozono, with whom everything began at the trade fair, has unfortunately passed away in the meantime. Today, the company in Japan is run by his brother Yutaka Shimodozono. His son Hajime Shimodozono is also active in the company.
Incidentally, the brand name KEIKO is a small homage to Keiko, Hiroshi's wife. Together, the two of them were instrumental in promoting organic farming and contributed to the creation of the German Shimodozono offshoot and today's KEIKO brand.
You can find more information in the KEIKO history.