The History of our Founder
Kikuji Watanabe (1905-1969)
Born in 1905 in the mountainous regions (in a tea plantation) of Shizuoka Prefecture.He got his start in tea sales by peddling tea from door to door and ultimately established the company in 1933 in Ibaraki Prefecture.
The most unique characteristic of Kisakuen is in the basic philosophy behind our operation, which starts at the upstream level (product manufacturing) and ends at the downstream level (product consumption).
Kikuji Watanabe (only educated up to the elementary school level)Founded the company from very meager beginnings.
Led a very earnest life.
He borrowed 4 kilograms of tea from relatives and rode his bicycle from door to door peddling the tea. He worked from sunrise until sunset selling his tea.
1949The first tea manufacturing plant was built.
The tea industry’s first automation was introduced.
1965Kikuji experienced the highlight of his life when he met the Pope.
The foreign currency exchange rate was extremely high at 360 yen (fixed rate), and 1 million yen quickly ran out for travel expenses in Rome.
On the right in the photograph: Kikuji Watanabe
The Second President, Isaku Watanabe (1934?~)
Born in 1934 [translator’s note: If Showa 8 is correct, it should be 1933] in a village located in the middle of the Kanto Plain in Ibaraki Prefecture.Graduated from High School in 1953 and started working in the tea business.
He considers his poor upbringing to be his best asset and has dedicated his career as the second-generation president to originality and ingenuity.
His father used a motorized three-wheeler as the incentive to get him to help with the family business.His first job was hauling tea.
He accepted the fact that he would have to give up his dream of going to college.
1973Headquarter’s first tea plant was built.
The plant had a three-dimensional design due to restrictions imposed by the city.
1987The second plant was built and was dedicated exclusively to Chinese tea in order to further expand the scope of tea consumption.
1995Isaku Watanabe’s life work, “Greenpia Makinohara” was completed.
