May 17th is "Ochazuke Day"! Spreading "OCHAZUKE" Culture to the World!
Nagatanien will hold a sampling event for 8,000 servings of "Ochazuke Nori" at the Ryogoku Kokugikan during the Grand Sumo Tournament in May, coinciding with "Ochazuke Day" on May 17th, for the third consecutive year. With the increasing inbound demand, the company aims to spread the "OCHAZUKE" food culture globally.
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- 📰 Published: May 12, 2026 at 20:03
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Nagatanien Co., Ltd. (President: Hiroshi Kakeya, Minato-ku, Tokyo) will celebrate "Ochazuke Day" on Sunday, May 17th. Our flagship product, "Ochazuke Nori," has offered the same taste since its launch in 1952, with cumulative sales exceeding 17 billion servings.
This year, coinciding with "Ochazuke Day," we will conduct a sampling of 8,000 servings of "Ochazuke Nori" at the entrance of Ryogoku Kokugikan during the Grand Sumo Tournament in May, for the third consecutive year. In recent years, the number of foreign tourists visiting Japan has increased due to inbound tourism, and we will use "Ochazuke Day" to promote the food culture of "OCHAZUKE" to the world.
"Ochazuke Nori" Sampling to be Held at Ryogoku Kokugikan During the Grand Sumo Tournament in May
Our company has long supported Sumo, a traditional Japanese culture, through displaying advertising banners and featuring sumo wrestlers in TV commercials. Due to this connection, in 2024 and 2025, "Ochazuke Nori" sampling was realized at Ryogoku Kokugikan during the Grand Sumo Tournament in May on "Ochazuke Day," May 17th. As it was very well received by visitors, we have decided to hold it again this year.
On the day of the event, Nagatanien employees will stand at the entrance of Ryogoku Kokugikan and distribute 8,000 samples of "Ochazuke Nori" (1 serving each) in original paper bags to visitors, expressing our daily gratitude.
With the recent rise in inbound tourism, many foreign tourists visit, and we will also prepare English leaflets explaining Ochazuke. While Japanese foods such as sushi, tempura, and ramen are globally popular, we aim to promote the charm of "OCHAZUKE," one of Japan's representative food cultures, to the world.
"Ochazuke Nori" sample (1 serving) for Ochazuke Day and original paper bag. English leaflet for 2025. This year, English leaflets will also be prepared for foreign tourists.
Scenes from the sampling event at Ryogoku Kokugikan held on May 17, 2025.
Sampling Event Overview
Date: Sunday, May 17, 2026, around 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Venue: Ryogoku Kokugikan (1-3-28 Yokozuna, Sumida-ku, Tokyo) inside the entrance
*Those without tickets cannot enter.
Distributed items: "Ochazuke Nori" sample (1 serving) + original paper bag (8,000 servings)
*The details of the sampling will be announced later on Nagatanien's website, etc.
May 17th is Ochazuke Day
"Ochazuke Day" was registered and established by the Japan Anniversary Association on May 17th, the death anniversary of Soshichiro Nagatani (who later became a monk and was called Soen), the root of our company, in 2012 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the launch of "Ochazuke Nori." This was done to honor his great achievement.
In the mid-Edo period, when common people could only drink poor quality tea, Soshichiro, who ran a tea business in Yuyadani, Ujitawara-go, Yamashiro Province (present-day Yuyadani, Ujitawara-cho, Tsuzuki-gun, Kyoto Prefecture), invented the method of making sencha with the desire to "provide enjoyment to people in their daily lives," allowing many people to enjoy the aroma and taste of tea. People honored Soshichiro's achievements, and he is enshrined as "Chaso Myojin" in his hometown of Kyoto.
Portrait of Soshichiro Nagatani
The Secret Story of the Birth of "Ochazuke Nori"
"Ochazuke Nori" was developed by Yoshio Nagatani, the 10th generation descendant of Soshichiro Nagatani and the founder of Nagatanien. He thought, "The comforting taste of ochazuke as a finishing dish at a small restaurant makes you feel somehow at ease. I want to make this taste enjoyable at home," and after much effort in quality and design details, it was completed and launched in 1952.
The simple yet "gentle Japanese taste" of matcha, nori, dashi, and arare has remained almost unchanged since its launch. The initial package was named "Edo-style Ochazuke Nori," but with trademark registration in 1956, it was changed to "Nagatanien's Ochazuke Nori." Since then, it has remained largely unchanged. The package design, with its commitment to the balance of kanji and hiragana in "Ochazuke Nori," evokes the "Edo atmosphere" associated with ochazuke, featuring yellow, red, black, and green stripes reminiscent of a Kabuki stage curtain.
Main Lineup of Nagatanien "Ochazuke" Products
Brand site: https://www.nagatanien.co.jp/brand/ochaduke/
Regular type Cup Ochazuke Assorted Ochazuke, etc.
This year, coinciding with "Ochazuke Day," we will conduct a sampling of 8,000 servings of "Ochazuke Nori" at the entrance of Ryogoku Kokugikan during the Grand Sumo Tournament in May, for the third consecutive year. In recent years, the number of foreign tourists visiting Japan has increased due to inbound tourism, and we will use "Ochazuke Day" to promote the food culture of "OCHAZUKE" to the world.
"Ochazuke Nori" Sampling to be Held at Ryogoku Kokugikan During the Grand Sumo Tournament in May
Our company has long supported Sumo, a traditional Japanese culture, through displaying advertising banners and featuring sumo wrestlers in TV commercials. Due to this connection, in 2024 and 2025, "Ochazuke Nori" sampling was realized at Ryogoku Kokugikan during the Grand Sumo Tournament in May on "Ochazuke Day," May 17th. As it was very well received by visitors, we have decided to hold it again this year.
On the day of the event, Nagatanien employees will stand at the entrance of Ryogoku Kokugikan and distribute 8,000 samples of "Ochazuke Nori" (1 serving each) in original paper bags to visitors, expressing our daily gratitude.
With the recent rise in inbound tourism, many foreign tourists visit, and we will also prepare English leaflets explaining Ochazuke. While Japanese foods such as sushi, tempura, and ramen are globally popular, we aim to promote the charm of "OCHAZUKE," one of Japan's representative food cultures, to the world.
"Ochazuke Nori" sample (1 serving) for Ochazuke Day and original paper bag. English leaflet for 2025. This year, English leaflets will also be prepared for foreign tourists.
Scenes from the sampling event at Ryogoku Kokugikan held on May 17, 2025.
Sampling Event Overview
Date: Sunday, May 17, 2026, around 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Venue: Ryogoku Kokugikan (1-3-28 Yokozuna, Sumida-ku, Tokyo) inside the entrance
*Those without tickets cannot enter.
Distributed items: "Ochazuke Nori" sample (1 serving) + original paper bag (8,000 servings)
*The details of the sampling will be announced later on Nagatanien's website, etc.
May 17th is Ochazuke Day
"Ochazuke Day" was registered and established by the Japan Anniversary Association on May 17th, the death anniversary of Soshichiro Nagatani (who later became a monk and was called Soen), the root of our company, in 2012 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the launch of "Ochazuke Nori." This was done to honor his great achievement.
In the mid-Edo period, when common people could only drink poor quality tea, Soshichiro, who ran a tea business in Yuyadani, Ujitawara-go, Yamashiro Province (present-day Yuyadani, Ujitawara-cho, Tsuzuki-gun, Kyoto Prefecture), invented the method of making sencha with the desire to "provide enjoyment to people in their daily lives," allowing many people to enjoy the aroma and taste of tea. People honored Soshichiro's achievements, and he is enshrined as "Chaso Myojin" in his hometown of Kyoto.
Portrait of Soshichiro Nagatani
The Secret Story of the Birth of "Ochazuke Nori"
"Ochazuke Nori" was developed by Yoshio Nagatani, the 10th generation descendant of Soshichiro Nagatani and the founder of Nagatanien. He thought, "The comforting taste of ochazuke as a finishing dish at a small restaurant makes you feel somehow at ease. I want to make this taste enjoyable at home," and after much effort in quality and design details, it was completed and launched in 1952.
The simple yet "gentle Japanese taste" of matcha, nori, dashi, and arare has remained almost unchanged since its launch. The initial package was named "Edo-style Ochazuke Nori," but with trademark registration in 1956, it was changed to "Nagatanien's Ochazuke Nori." Since then, it has remained largely unchanged. The package design, with its commitment to the balance of kanji and hiragana in "Ochazuke Nori," evokes the "Edo atmosphere" associated with ochazuke, featuring yellow, red, black, and green stripes reminiscent of a Kabuki stage curtain.
Main Lineup of Nagatanien "Ochazuke" Products
Brand site: https://www.nagatanien.co.jp/brand/ochaduke/
Regular type Cup Ochazuke Assorted Ochazuke, etc.