About Japan Matcha Desk

Japan Matcha Desk is a small, independent research desk based in Tsuruoka, Yamagata, Japan. We read Japanese-language primary sources and publish what matters for buyers in Europe, in English.

Terraced tea fields on a hillside, with black shade cloth hung on frames above some of the rows — Terraced tea fields, with the frames used to hang shade cloth over the bushes before harvest. Photo: PAKUTASO

How we work

Sources first: Every figure carries its source and the date we checked it: customs statistics, tea-market data, ministry notices and producers' own announcements.
Neutral: We don't sell tea, introduce or broker suppliers, or accept fees from suppliers. Sponsors, if any, have no editorial say and are always labelled.
No tasting notes: We cover supply, prices, documents and regulation. Flavour, brewing and health claims are outside our scope.

Paid work

For buyers who need more, we work from the Japanese side. Scope and price are fixed in advance.

Monthly sourcing briefSupplier-by-supplier status, prices, documents and regulatory deadlines, every month.
One-off researchSupplier shortlists, COA review against EU and GB limits, and written questions to suppliers in Japanese.

Write to [email protected] with what you are sourcing and when you need an answer.