Goal Achieved in Just 9 Minutes! 1000% Reached in 6 Days! Empathy Pours in for a Historic Tea Shop's Challenge to Break Away from 'Free Tea'. 'Freshly Brewed' Taste in 20 Seconds. Patented Japanese Tea Bottle 'Chatsumi' Makes a Strong Start on Makuake.

[Shiogama City, Miyagi Prefecture / April 17, 2026] Yabe-en Chaho Co., Ltd. (Location: Shiogama City, Miyagi Prefecture; CEO: Toru Yabe), a company with over 90 years of history, began pre-sales of the Japanese tea bottle 'Chatsumi' and the new lineup 'Roasted Green Tea Kofuku' on the support purchasing service 'Makuake' starting at 10:00 AM on Friday, April 17, 2026. We are pleased to announce that the project generated a massive response immediately after launch, achieving its target amount in just 9 minutes, and reaching 1283% as of 10:00 AM on April 23.

'Chatsumi' Project Page (Makuake): https://www.makuake.com/project/yabe-en_chatsumi/

Empathy for 'Reasons to Pay for Tea'

This project is not just the announcement of a new product. It is also a challenge against the social background deeply rooted in Japanese food culture that 'tea is something provided for free at restaurants.'

We want to change the structure where the higher the quality of the tea leaves, the harder it is to convey their value, making it difficult for producers to be rewarded. Many supporters have empathized with this sentiment of Yabe-en Chaho, and we have received numerous encouraging comments.

*Below are excerpts from some of the supportive comments received.

'Thank you for your hard work. I currently live overseas. Amidst the recent matcha boom where there are many fakes, I sincerely hope that authentic Japanese tea leaves and tea will be distributed. I want the farmers to do their best as well. My family is also in farming, so I was deeply moved by this initiative. I pray for the success of this project.'

'A valuable cup! May that value reach many people!! I am rooting for you.'

'This might be an innovative challenge not only for the tea industry but also for bottled beverages! I support you.'

▼Support site (Special Page) is here https://ubiquitous-bubblegum-597a5d.netlify.app/

The Fruition of 15 Years of Journeying with a Group of Professional Chefs

'Chatsumi' was born out of 15 years of discussions with the 'National Mebaekai Federation,' a group of young managers of traditional Japanese restaurants nationwide.

It is a challenge to resolve the on-site dilemma of 'Why is free tea or oolong tea served when eating Japanese cuisine?' and to bring tea back as a 'valuable ingredient.'

Features of This Project: Professional Taste Realized by Anyone in 20 Seconds

1. [Patented] Special Structure Separating Water and Tea Leaves (Patent No. 6895034) A unique structure where tea leaves (powder) are sealed inside the cap and only mix with water when twisted right before drinking. It suppresses oxidation, bringing out vivid colors and rich aromas just like tea freshly brewed in a teapot.

2. New Appearance 'Roasted Green Tea Kofuku' and Rare Variety 'Saemidori' For green tea, we use the 'strong fire of the covered cultivation' of the rare variety 'Saemidori'. For the roasted green tea 'Kofuku', we employ an 'ultra-fine pulverization' technology that grinds the stems of the first flushes to the submicron level, realizing an overwhelming roast aroma and lingering finish.

3. Designed 'Brewing Method' That Never Fails Completed in just 3 steps: 'Twist, Tighten, Shake (20 seconds)'. Because anyone can always enjoy the highest quality Japanese tea without specialized knowledge, it is perfect not only for home use but also for Japanese restaurants, inns, business hospitality, and novelties.

Project Overview Product Name: Japanese Tea Bottle 'Chatsumi' / Roasted Green Tea 'Kofuku' Volume: 180ml Suggested Retail Price: 600 yen each (excluding tax) Sales Location: Makuake (Pre-sale) Period: From Friday, April 17, 2026 URL: https://www.makuake.com/project/yabe-en_chatsumi/

About Yabe-en Chaho Co., Ltd. Founded in 1934 (Showa 9) in Shiogama City, Miyagi Prefecture. Throughout its history of over 90 years, it has provided tea leaves to professional venues strict on aroma, such as traditional Japanese restaurants, inns, and sushi shops. Under the slogan 'Making the time to enjoy tea richer,' we propose a new value for Japanese tea that balances tradition and innovation.

Trade Name: Yabe-en Chaho Co., Ltd. Representative: Toru Yabe, President and CEO Location: 1-20-B Kaigandori, Shiogama City, Miyagi Prefecture 985-0002 Established: November 1934 (Showa 9) Business Description: Manufacture and sale of Japanese tea URL: https://yabe-en.com/

Contact Information Regarding This Matter Yabe-en Chaho Co., Ltd. Contact: Chika Kowata TEL: 022-364-1515 Email: [email protected]

For media representatives, we are accepting requests at any time for: Providing samples for photography Explaining the development background such as 'How to change the free tea culture' Demonstration of ice-water serving methods Interviews with the representative