ABOUT US
WHY
KAGUYA
Bamboo reaches straight for the sun,
and though it is tested by wind and rain,
it bends gently and returns, never breaking.
Its form reflects the spirit of “fall seven times, rise eight,”
holding both strength and kindness—
the ability to endure, adapt, and rise again.
We cherish this unbreakable yet supple spirit,
and aspire to grow with the same sincerity and flexibility,
both as people and as a company.
With this belief, we named our brand KAGUYA.
“KAGUYA” also means “those who shine.”
When each individual shines in their own light,
becoming hope for someone else,
we believe this chain of light
can shape a society that is kinder and stronger.
MISSION
"Delivering resilience and inspiration to the world."
KAGUYA is a lifestyle brand inspired by bamboo, continuously growing with flexibility and integrity,
and reimagining Japanese culture through a modern lens.
VALUE
柔心
JUSHIN
Gentle, resilient, and unbroken.
真軸
SHINJIKU
Moving forward with sincerity and conviction.
余白
YOHAKU
Clarity through restraint.
共鳴
KYOMEI
Walking together as trusted partners.
MESSAGE
NAOMI KAMIYAMA
Co-founder / CEO / Tea Master
At my family's dining table, meals made with organically grown vegetables—cultivated by my mother—were always a part of everyday life.
I rarely fell ill as a student, but after entering the workforce, a busy schedule and frequent dining out led me to neglect my own well-being. In 2020, I experienced a serious illness.
This moment became a turning point—one that forced me to reconsider my body, my mind, and ultimately, what I choose and how I choose to live.
My encounter with tea began at the age of eighteen. While working as an assistant at tea gatherings held at an African embassy, I started studying kimono dressing and the tea ceremony.
At twenty-four, I moved to New York with a full set of tea utensils. There, I was shocked to find that Japanese tea was often served with sugar.
It was then that I felt a strong desire to share the true essence of Japanese tea in everyday life—an impulse that became the origin of this business.
The act of preparing tea is a moment to return to oneself, to breathe deeply and reconnect.
Because matcha allows us to consume the tea leaves in their entirety, I believe it must be safe, natural, and respectful of the environment.
With this in mind, we deliver tea infused with the dedication and intentions of the farmers who cultivate it.
Through my experience in sales, branding, product creation, and business development—both in Japan and abroad—I have seen many people take their first steps without a trusted partner to consult.
As a result, it is not uncommon for early-stage products to fall short of expectations, leading to unnecessary costs and setbacks.
At KAGUYA, while tea remains our foundation, we work closely with a wide network of trusted partners across Japan.
Our goal is to be a reliable companion for those building their brands—walking alongside them with care and clarity.
If we can support our clients in taking their first steps with confidence, and help them move toward the future they envision, it would be our greatest pleasure.
RAN AOKI
Co-founder / Director / Rugby Player
I began playing rugby at the age of three, always with my eyes set on the world beyond.
I stand 160 centimeters tall. I am not physically imposing, nor am I exceptionally fast.
Before I knew it, rugby had been a part of my life for twenty-six years. Today, after giving birth, I am once again challenging myself—this time, returning to the pitch through postpartum recovery.
Through this long athletic journey, I arrived at one essential truth.
It is what KAGUYA calls the spirit of bamboo.
Bamboo does not snap when struck by rain or shaken by the wind.
It bends, then quietly and surely returns to its own axis.
Strength, I have learned, is not about enduring without end.
It is about swaying with flexibility, and still returning to who you truly are.
Living this way, I believe, allows life to become richer and more meaningful.
As an athlete committed wholeheartedly to competition, I came to understand that the mind and body are inseparable.
Maintaining a state of inner comfort—both mentally and physically—is the key to unlocking true performance.
That is why I choose carefully what I put into my body.
It must be something I can trust, something I can consume with confidence.
That belief is the very foundation of KAGUYA’ s organic matcha.
It is said that great leaders of the past would prepare a bowl of tea in the quiet of a tea room before heading into battle—using that moment to face themselves.
Preparing matcha is a time when titles and roles fall away, and one simply returns to being oneself.
It gently draws the mind inward, away from constant outward demands.
To bend without breaking.
To return, with grace, to one’s own center.
I believe matcha offers an opportunity to rediscover this true strength.
Through realizing KAGUYA’s mission—“Bringing suppleness and inspiration to the world”—we aspire to grow into a company that contributes to a society that is healthy, positive, and balanced in both mind and body.