Founded in 1948 by Yoshikazu Naito, the Koukaen Tea Factory is owned by the Naito family and employs a total of 9 people including family members. His son, President Tadashi Naito (left) is the 2nd head of the company. 

Based in the Nishio region of Aichi Prefecture, Koukaen specializes in the initial processing of leaves from farms in Nishio into dried unrefined tencha tea leaves (steamed and dried without rolling), and grinding of refined tencha leaves into matcha. (Refinement of the tencha leaves is outsourced to a trusted partner.)