Bashōen are a specialty tea purveyor in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture in the north of Japan. The business began in 1688 as a grain, rice, and miso shop, giving them over three centuries of experience in specialty agriculture. In 1941, the 13th generation head of the business, Seki Kiyoshi, established the Bashōen tea store as it exists today. From their background in daily foodstuffs, they took the same commitment to sourcing high-quality tea, with mottos such as "quality first, taste first' and 'those involved in daily food should look at the soil'.