A new food brand born in Ginza is making its way to Fukuoka. Japan Koki Corporation is bringing GINZA TOKYO, its food brand that reimagines Japan's traditional food culture with a contemporary sensibility, to Fukuoka for the full-scale launch of its very first shop, GINZA TOKYO 樂 gaku, introducing Japanese aesthetics through wagashi (traditional sweets) and Japanese tea.
A Brand Reconstructing Japan's Traditional Food Culture with a Reiwa-Era Sensibility
Centered on the concepts of "all Japan made" and regional revitalization, GINZA TOKYO uses only domestically produced raw ingredients and avoids artificial or synthetic food additives, letting the ingredients themselves take center stage.
Carrying forward the food culture handed down since the Edo and Meiji eras, the brand proposes new value that fits comfortably into modern lifestyles, aiming to pass Japan's distinctive flavors on to the next generation.
A Monaka Refined at a Renowned Edomae Sushi Restaurant in Ginza
The brand's signature item, "菓樂 -GARAKU- Omakase Monaka®," was born from a flavor served as an after-meal sweet at an Edomae sushi restaurant in Ginza, loved by well-known figures from around the world.
The "Plain" version pairs a fragrant monaka shell made from domestic mochi rice with a filling made entirely from domestic ingredients, including Hokkaido azuki beans, letting the natural flavor of the ingredients shine through.
The "Matcha" version, meanwhile, uses matcha from Asahina in Shizuoka Prefecture — known as one of Japan's three major gyokuro-producing regions — generously in the shell, the filling, and the matcha powder itself. Its rich umami and elegant bitterness harmonize with the gentle sweetness of Hokkaido azuki beans, offering the deep, lingering finish characteristic of wagashi.
Both versions are finished by hand just before eating, so guests can enjoy the light texture and aroma of a freshly made treat.
It is also the same treat served at an international sporting event that drew global attention this year.
The monaka shell is made from a unique blend of domestic mochi rice, recreating the quality of traditional hand-baking with modern technology.
The filling, including Hokkaido azuki beans, is made entirely from selected domestic ingredients and carefully simmered by artisans.
Tea Leaves Grown in Makinohara, Birthplace of Deep-Steamed Sencha, Reimagined as Sparkling Tea
The brand proposes a new way to enjoy Japanese tea that goes beyond convention. It can brighten a toast like an aperitif or champagne, quench thirst like a beer or sparkling water, and, of course, being Japanese tea, complement a meal or pair with wagashi. Tea leaves carefully selected by the 7th-generation tea master of a long-established tea manufacturer founded in the Meiji era have been crafted into this new sparkling tea with a Reiwa-era sensibility.
"華樂 -KAGURA- Sparkling Tea," made generously with tea leaves grown in Makinohara, the birthplace of deep-steamed sencha.
From Shizuoka's Makinohara, the Depth of Tencha, the Source of Today's Beloved Matcha
Amid soaring interest in matcha both in Japan and abroad, GINZA TOKYO 樂 gaku turned its attention to tencha, the raw leaf used to make matcha. Grown in Makinohara, Shizuoka, home to one of Japan's largest tea plantations, this tencha carries a gentle sweetness, concentrated umami, and a quiet, lingering finish. Ground carefully with a stone mill, each cup offers the deep flavor of tencha and the true character of Japanese tea culture.
Innovation takes the form of sparkling tea. Tradition takes the form of matcha. Both arrive from Shizuoka's Makinohara.
Not Tea to Quench Thirst, But Tea to Savor — the Elegance of Tencha, Bottled
"華樂 -KAGURA- Bottling Tea" is a bottled tea made from tencha grown in Makinohara, Shizuoka, home to one of Japan's largest tea plantations, carefully drawn out through a special extraction method. Unlike ordinary sencha, it is defined by layers of umami and a long, quiet finish, letting guests savor a changing flavor with every sip, much like a fine wine. It's a bottle that proposes new value for Japanese tea, capturing the deep character of the tea leaf itself.
A sparkling tea to enjoy the new. A matcha to savor the traditional. A bottling tea that perfects refinement. Three Japanese teas, all from Shizuoka's Makinohara.
Pop-Up Shop Details
Daimaru Fukuoka Tenjin marks the first step in the brand launch of GINZA TOKYO 樂 gaku.
Event Name: GINZA TOKYO 樂 gaku Limited-Time Pop-Up Shop
Venue: Daimaru Fukuoka Tenjin, Main Building B2F Event Space
Dates: August 12 (Wed) to August 18 (Tue), 2026
Hours: 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Products:
- 菓樂 -GARAKU- Omakase Monaka®
- Plain, box of 6
- Matcha, box of 6
- Plain and Matcha, 3 pieces each
- Plain, single piece
- Matcha, single piece
- Plain and Matcha, 1 piece each
- 華樂 -KAGURA- Japanese Tea
- Sparkling Tea
- Matcha
- Bottling Tea
The pop-up is the brand's very first shop, with a location in Tokyo's Ginza area also planned for autumn 2026.
Official Website
https://ginzatokyo.jp/
Official Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/ginzatokyo_official/
Official Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/GINZATOKYO.official
Official X
https://x.com/ginzatokyo_x
