Kei Nishida's Blog

We will have a booth at the OC Japan Faire October 17 - 19 2025

We are excited to return to OC Japan Faire again on October 17-19, 2025!

This is the largest Japan-related event in Southern California, a legendary event that has been going on for 16 years.

The April 2025 event drew 52,000 visitors and maxed out the capacity of the Orange County Fairgrounds, resulting in sold-out tickets and many people being turned away. We had a booth in April, and you can read about it here. 

We are honored to be back at this fantastic and fun event.  

I hope you can join...

Totoro & Japanese Green Tea + Our Secret Edible Makkuro Kurosuke Recipe!

 

Just like every film and TV series needs a protagonist, it seems like they all need some sort of tiny-little-cute side character. 

Think “Baby Yoda” (aka Grogu) or the adorable yellow Minions from Despicable Me.

Certainly, in Japanese media cuteness is everywhere.

Even Japanese advertisements and everyday products often feature cheek-pinchable characters.

The iconic cheek-pinchable kewpie brand character

 

One of our all-time favorite cuties from Japan are the Makkuro Kurosuke (まっくろくろすけ) “P...

Yerba Mate Tea (マテ茶) vs Japanese Green Tea

Introduction

Recently, I got to meet with Kikuchi Kiyotaka, who is the owner of a very unique rum bar in Aoyama, Tokyo called TAKANOHA - a cozy spot tucked along Roppongi-dori, easily recognizable by its bright red awning.

Where Spice, Rum, and Curry Meet – The Story Behind TAKANOHA

TAKANOHA serves curry for lunch. By night, it transforms into a cozy rum bar.

From what I’ve heard, they celebrated their 19th anniversary on August 14, 2025.

The bar features an impressive lineup of around 200 type...

Japanese Green Tea vs Vietnamese Tea

There are significant differences between Vietnamese Tea and Japanese Tea. However, each type of extraordinary tea has its own originality and peculiarities, generating fantastic stories that all tea enthusiasts will remember. Let's go to the ten battles between two kinds of tea to learn more about it.

1.   INCREDIBLE HABIT: Drinking Tea is a Favored Habit Between Vietnamese People

Tea drinking is considered a form of beauty in Vietnamese culture. It serves as a means of social connection....

LB Sake Day 2025 Recap at Long Beach, CA by Sake Secret 9/6/2025

Are you into Sake (酒)? 

We had an incredible time participating in LB Sake Day on Saturday, September 6, 2025, in Long Beach, CA, organized by Sake Secret (See below more about Sake Secret)!

This was our very first time joining this vibrant event, and we were thrilled to be part of the celebration.

It was a wonderful opportunity to share our award-winning green tea, our one-and-only Sumiyaki Japanese coffee, and a few surprise items with so many sake enthusiasts and tea lovers.

Here is a short...

We will have a booth at LB Sake Day at Long Beach, CA by Sake Secret 9/6/2025 - Join Us!

Are you into Sake (酒)? 

Will you be in the Long Beach, CA area this Saturday, September 6, 2025?

If so, please join us for a fantastic event at LB Sake Day!

We are thrilled to be part of LB Sake Day, our first time participating in this event, and we are excited about this opportunity. 

We will be offering our award-winning green tea, our one-and-only Sumiyaki Japanese coffee, and surprise items at this event. 

First, let me tell you about the event, and please scroll to learn about the folks w...

Introducing New Package for Benifūki Allergy Relief Japanese Green Tea Bag

We are excited to share the new package design for our popular Benifūki Allergy Relief Japanese Green Tea Bag.

The tea inside is the same Benifūki you have loved for years—only the package has been upgraded.

This new look complements the package design of our Benifūki Allergy Relief Candy, which has been a customer favorite since its debut. The two now share a harmonious visual style, making them a perfect pair for gifting or enjoying together.

Why is the package pink for green tea?

Many cus...

Designing packages of Tokyo Peppermint and Yokohama Peach by Miki Pon

Introducing Tokyo Peppermint and Yokohama Peach, Our Newest Products

We are excited to introduce a new addition to our tea line. 

Drumroll please...

Introducing Tokyo Peppermint and Yokohama Peach!!

What do you think? 

Aren't the packages cute?

The taste is wonderful too, trust me.

You will find the behind-the-scenes story of the package design below, but first, let me explain about these teas. 

These are sweetened sencha powder green tea with the natural flavor of Peppermint or Peach.

If you h...

Maum Market at the Enclave, Torrance CA - July 19 2025

 

We’re thrilled to announce that we’ll be joining MAUM Market again — this time at a brand-new venue for us: The Enclave in Torrance, CA!

Come find us on Saturday, July 19th, from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM for a day of summer sunshine, curated finds, and community spirit.

📍 Where’s the Market?
This special outdoor market takes place at The Enclave, a creative campus and gathering space in the heart of the South Bay. Known for its open-air design, vibrant energy, and beautiful industrial-modern layou...

Kiriko, Portland Carries Our Tea – Inspiration from Our Hometown

We’re excited to announce that Kiriko Made, a one-of-a-kind boutique in Portland, Oregon, now offers a selection of our Japanese green teas in their beautiful store! 

As you may know, Portland is our hometown, and we couldn’t be happier to partner with such a thoughtful and inspiring team. This collaboration brings together two worlds of Japanese tradition and Pacific Northwest creativity under one roof. 

Below, we’d like to introduce Kiriko’s story – from its founding philosophy to its new ki...