| 1790 |
Fukujuen has a long history dating back to the Kansai era. It first started to take shape at Kizugawa Harbour, or the intersection between Yamato-kaido Road and Iga-kaido Road, where Fukui Iyemon started trading tea at a distribution centre known as Yamashiro-kuni Kamikoma, now Yamashiro-cho – located at Kizugawa City, Kyoto.
From the late Tokugawa period to the end of the Meiji period
Along with raw silk, the Japanese tea industry was highly prosperous with high export potential. It mainly developed from exports from Kobe Port and wholesale trade.
From the end of the Meiji period to 1945
Focus was placed on selling tea to local tea shops wholesale. A wide range of tea was also delivered from the private sector to government agencies. |
| 1949/12 |
After the establishment of a retail store at Kyoto Station, Fukujuen began expanding across the country, including sale counters in department stores. Fukujuen strove to promote and sell Uji tea under its manufacturing business name. |
| 1960/03 |
The new head office as well as the sencha and matcha factory were established. |
| 1964/12 |
The current honorary president Fukui Masanori succeeds President Masami as CEO. At this time, the tea industry was entering a transition phase in which the distribution system was being revolutionised. |
| 1967/10 |
To support mass production, the factory underwent a mass expansion and was completed with air-conditioning, tea packaging, blending and drying areas, refrigerators and material storage. |
| 1970/04 |
Fukujuen pursued innovation, employing labour-saving technologies in areas from tea processing to packaging. Fukujuen also built a factory with automated production facilities, installed a chemical research facility and added a storage warehouse. |
| 1974/05 |
The construction of a ‘three-dimensional’ factory was completed. In order to streamline production processes and modernise management, Fukujuen further expanded the factory with a fully automated, refrigerated warehouse and installed high-speed automatic packaging machines. Fukujuen also incurred cost savings through systems management and the establishment of a thorough quality control system. |
| 1980/09 |
Uji no Tsuyu Tea Production Co.、Ltd. was established. |
| 1987/10 |
Uji no Tsuyu Yamashiro Centre was established. |
| 1988/10 |
Fukujuen increased its production capacity to expand into manufacturing tea bags. |
| 1990/03 |
Fukui Masafumi was appointed as the chairman and Fukui Masanori as the CEO. |
| 1990/04 |
Fukujuen CHA Research Centre opened in Kansai Science City. |
| 2001/08 |
Fukujuen opened its first global store in Singapore. |
| 2004/03 |
The collaborative brand, Iyemon, began sales. |
| 2004/11 |
Fukujuen Group was awarded with an ISO9001 certificate for product quality. |
| 2007/02 |
The expansion of Fukujuen CHA Research Centre was completed. |
| 2007/08 |
Fukujuen Uji Studio opened in Uji, Kyoto. |
| 2007/12 |
Fukujuen Yamashiro Factory was awarded with an ISO14001 certificate for environmental management. |
| 2008/06 |
Fukujuen Yamashiro Factory was awarded with an ISO22000 certificate for food safety. |
| 2008/09 |
The Kyoto flagship store opened in Shijō-dori, Kyoto. |
| 2010/09 |
Fukujien Uji Tea Cake Studio opened in Uji, Kyoto. |
| 2012/04 |
Fukujuen Yamashiro East Factory, specialised in manufacturing tea bags, began operations in Kizugawa City, Kyoto. |
| 2013/05 |
Fukui Masafumi was appointed as the honorary president, Fukui Masanori as the chairman and Fukui Masaoki as the CEO. |
| 2014/03 |
Fukujuen Uji Cafe began operations in Uji, Kyoto. Fukujuen CHA Educational Park opened in Kizugawa City, Kyoto. |
| 2015/04 |
Fukujuen Yamashiro Factory and Fukujuen Yamashiro East Factory were awarded with a FSSC 22000 certificate for food safety. |
| 2017/10 |
Fukujuen Tea Street opened in Kizugawa City, Kyoto. |
