Drinking Wellness "Shizuoka Matcha Therapy" to Exhibit at IVS2026 Startup Market and Shizuoka Wellness Foods EXPO2026

Funpicking Inc. (Headquarters: Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Representative Director: Tamaki Natsume) will exhibit its wellness brand "Shizuoka Matcha Therapy," which utilizes Shizuoka tea, at the "IVS2026 Startup Market" to be held in Kyoto on July 1, 2026 (Wed), and at the "Shizuoka Wellness Foods EXPO2026" to be held in Shizuoka City for two days on July 23 (Thu) and 24 (Fri), 2026.

At the venues, we will introduce Shizuoka Prefecture's tea as a "wellness experience to savor" and will also sell Asahina Gyokuro "Okumidori" and Kawane award-winning lightly steamed teas "Harumidori" and "Inaguchi" in limited quantities. All will be available for purchase at direct-from-producer prices, limited to the first 5 customers per item.

We will also introduce Shizuoka Matcha Therapy's goal of globally expanding tea as wellness. Please look forward to future developments regarding "Tea Counseling AI," which is currently being updated.

About Shizuoka Matcha Therapy

"Shizuoka Matcha Therapy" is a Shizuoka-based wellness brand that redefines Japanese tea not as a mere beverage, but as "drinking wellness" that supports the mind and body.

Focusing on the aroma, taste, and the contemplative time that matcha and Japanese tea offer, we aim to create a new wellness habit of self-regulation in daily life through personalized tea recommendations tailored to each individual's condition.

Currently, in addition to product development centered on Shizuoka tea, we are developing and updating "Tea Counseling AI," a personalized recommendation service utilizing AI.

About Exhibition at IVS2026 Startup Market

We will exhibit at the "IVS2026 Startup Market" to be held at the Kyoto International Exhibition Hall "Miyakomesse" on July 1, 2026 (Wed).

IVS Startup Market is an exhibition and networking space held within "IVS," one of Japan's largest startup conferences, gathering startups, investors, large corporations, and support organizations.

On the day, we will introduce Shizuoka Matcha Therapy's initiatives and communicate the new value of Shizuoka tea to domestic and international startup professionals, investors, and businesses.

〖Exhibition Overview〗

・Event Name: IVS2026 Startup Market

・Date: July 1, 2026 (Wed) SB-37

・Venue: Kyoto International Exhibition Hall "Miyakomesse"

・Address: 9-1 Okazaki Seishoji-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture

・Official Website: https://www.ivs.events/

・Exhibition Content: Business introduction of Shizuoka Matcha Therapy, introduction and sale of Shizuoka tea products

About Exhibition at Shizuoka Wellness Foods EXPO2026

We will exhibit at the "Shizuoka Wellness Foods EXPO2026" to be held in Shizuoka City for two days on July 23 (Thu) and 24 (Fri), 2026.

The EXPO is an exhibition that brings together startups, solution providers, and food and wellness-related businesses from within and outside the prefecture, with the aim of creating food tech and wellness businesses originating from Shizuoka.

Shizuoka Matcha Therapy will introduce Shizuoka tea as "wellness to savor" and will provide an exhibition and sales experience showcasing the appeal of Shizuoka Prefecture's tea.

〖Exhibition Overview〗

・Event Name: Shizuoka Wellness Foods EXPO2026

・Date: July 23 (Thu) and 24 (Fri), 2026

・Venue: Grand Ship 6F

・Address: 2-3-1 Higashi-Shizuoka, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture

・Official Website: https://shizuoka-wellnessfoods-expo.com/

・Exhibition Content: Introduction and sale of Shizuoka tea products, business introduction of Shizuoka Matcha Therapy

Limited Sales at IVS Venue / Single Origin Products

At the venue, to allow visitors to deeply savor the appeal of Shizuoka Prefecture's tea, we will sell carefully selected teas directly purchased from producers in limited quantities.

This time, we will offer teas from Asahina and Kawane, representative tea-producing regions of Shizuoka. We will also stock teas of varieties different from the commonly known "Yabukita," allowing you to enjoy the differences in aroma, umami, sweetness, and aftertaste among the varieties.

All will be offered at a special venue-limited price, leveraging our connections with producers. Sales are limited to the first 5 customers per product.

Asahina Gyokuro "Okumidori"

This is a gyokuro cultivated in the Asahina region of Okabe Town, Fujieda City, Shizuoka Prefecture. Asahina is known as one of Japan's three major gyokuro producing regions, alongside Uji in Kyoto and Yame in Fukuoka.

The gyokuro to be sold this time was carefully hand-picked leaf by leaf from a tea garden designated as a "Tea Garden for Imperial Family Offering Tea Production."

The "Okumidori" variety is characterized by its rich umami, mellow sweetness, and deep green liquor. Through the shading cultivation unique to gyokuro, it offers a full-bodied and rounded flavor while suppressing bitterness.

This product, born from the climate of Asahina and meticulous cultivation, offers an elegant aroma and a profound umami.

* This year's supply is sold out with the quantity allocated for the event.

Asahina Hand-Picked Sencha First Flush

This is the first flush hand-picked sencha grown in the same tea garden as the gyokuro.

Carefully picking the soft new buds unique to the first flush brings out a mellow umami and natural sweetness. It is characterized by a delicate aroma unique to hand-picking and a clear taste with little astringency.

It is less intense than gyokuro and offers the refreshing quality of sencha, making it recommended for those who want to enjoy high-quality Shizuoka tea in their daily lives.

* This year's supply is sold out with the quantity allocated for the event.

Kawane Lightly Steamed Tea "Harumidori"

This is a lightly steamed tea cultivated in the Kawane region of Kawanehon Town, Haibara District, Shizuoka Prefecture, which won the Product Fine Award at the "Nihoncha AWARD."

The "Harumidori" variety is a rare variety characterized by its elegant umami and mellow sweetness. It has a mild bitterness, and when sipped, a rich umami reminiscent of kelp broth and a milky aftertaste spread through the mouth.

Its transparent liquor, delicate aroma, and clean mouthfeel, unique to lightly steamed tea, are also appealing. You can fully appreciate the pure taste characteristic of Kawane tea and the individuality of the variety.

Kawane Lightly Steamed Tea "Inaguchi"

This is a lightly steamed tea cultivated in the Kawane region of Shizuoka Prefecture, which received a special award in the "100 Mountain Teas" selection.

The "Inaguchi" variety is a rare variety with a distinctive aroma. Grown in a high-altitude area within Kawane, it is characterized by its refreshing quality, typical of mountain teas, and a clean, crisp finish.

It has sweet and fragrant nuances reminiscent of chestnuts, and a herbaceous refreshing aroma, allowing you to enjoy the taste until the aftertaste. While having a gentle, smooth flavor, its aroma is distinctive, allowing you to feel the depth of Shizuoka tea.

Sales Information

The above products will be sold at the IVS venue, limited to the first 5 customers per product. As quantities are limited, sales will end once sold out. Please enjoy the individuality of Shizuoka's representative premium tea-producing regions, Asahina and Kawane, and the differences in aroma and umami among the varieties at the venue.

Due to handling rare, high-quality teas, the varieties and production regions will differ depending on the venue.

Tea as Wellness, from Shizuoka to the World

In recent years, Japanese tea, including matcha, has been gaining attention overseas as a beverage symbolizing a healthy and sophisticated lifestyle.

Shizuoka Matcha Therapy perceives Japanese tea not just as "something to drink," but as a wellness experience encompassing aroma, time, experience, and story, and will promote this both domestically and internationally.

Moving forward, in addition to product development centered on Shizuoka tea, we will update "Tea Counseling AI," which combines AI-driven personalized recommendations, and will engage in initiatives such as corporate wellness programs, events, and overseas expansion, not just BtoC.

A collaborative event with a retreat focus is also planned for Nagano Prefecture in September 2026.

Furthermore, "Tea Counseling AI" is currently undergoing updates, so please look forward to future announcements.

Company Profile

Company Name: Funpicking Inc.

Location: The ZAZA City Hamamatsu Chuo-kan B1F, 100-1 Kaji-cho, Chuo-ku, Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture

Representative Director: Tamaki Natsume

Established: October 2024

Business Activities: PR/Marketing support, planning, development, and sales of the wellness brand "Shizuoka Matcha Therapy" utilizing Shizuoka tea

Shizuoka Matcha Therapy Official Website: https://shizuokamatchatherapy.com/

Company HP: https://funpicking.com/