Chotto Matcha: Brewing a New Generation of Culture, Community, and Craft

Chotto Matcha is a modern Japanese tea brand and café concept created to bring authentic matcha culture to a new generation while supporting tea farmers in Japan. Rooted in Shizuoka’s tea heritage, the brand sources high quality matcha directly from producers and transforms it into an accessible lifestyle experience that blends tradition with contemporary design, storytelling, and community. With a growing presence across Asia, Chotto Matcha positions matcha not just as a beverage, but as a cultural ritual that connects people to craftsmanship, mindfulness, and the stories behind every cup. With that, let’s dive deeper into its mission and innovation with its CEO and Co-Founder, Sakura Motohashi. 

The Tea Farmers Who Almost Disappeared

Before Chotto Matcha became a café brand, it began with a quiet conversation in Shizuoka.

Sakura Motohashi was walking with her grandparents near Mount Fuji when she heard local tea farmers speak honestly about their struggles. Demand was falling, younger generations were drinking less tea, profits were shrinking, and many had no one to inherit the business. Some were ready to walk away. For Sakura, it felt familiar. She had seen similar realities in the Philippines, where producers work hard yet often receive the least reward. She was still a student, but one thought stayed with her.

What if these farmers could reach people beyond Japan. What if their stories could travel too.

That question became Chotto Matcha.

Learning to Begin

Having an idea is exciting. Knowing how to build it is another story.

Sakura knew she wanted to bring tea from Shizuoka to the Philippines, but she had no roadmap. Then she entered the world of TechShake through internships, events, and startup communities. There, she met founders who spoke openly about failure, uncertainty, and starting from zero. It made entrepreneurship feel real and possible.

TechShake did not give her all the answers. It gave her the confidence to begin.

More than a Matcha Brand

Today, matcha is everywhere. But for Chotto Matcha, it was never just about selling drinks.

The brand was built to carry the taste, heritage, and stories of Shizuoka tea farmers. Every harvest is slightly different, a reminder that real agriculture still sits behind every cup. Sakura and her younger sister also chose to be visible as founders, sharing their journey openly with customers. In a world of polished brands, that honesty became part of what people connected with.

Growing Across Borders

Expansion sounds glamorous until you live it.

Growing from Manila to Japan meant rebuilding systems, hiring new teams, managing logistics, and adapting to different customers. Japan brought even higher standards and expectations. Still, returning to Japan carried meaning. Chotto Matcha had first brought Japanese tea abroad. Now it was coming home shaped by everything it had learned in Southeast Asia. Opening in Asakusa felt like a full circle moment.

What Success Really Sounds Like

Success is not always loud.

Sometimes it is a customer saying they loved the drink. A compliment shared by staff. A regular who keeps coming back.

For Sakura, opening in Japan was meaningful, but it was never the finish line. In business, every milestone is also a new beginning. There are always fresh goals, new problems, and another chance to keep earning trust.

A Little Bit of Japan

The name Chotto Matcha says everything. “Chotto” means a little, or wait a moment. Pause for a second. That is the heart of the brand. Sakura believes culture survives not by staying frozen in the past, but by becoming part of everyday life again.

A cup of matcha may seem small. But sometimes a small moment is enough to spark curiosity, connection, and appreciation.

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Sakura Motohashi is the CEO and Co Founder of Chotto Matcha, a modern Japanese tea brand bringing authentic matcha culture to new audiences across Asia. Born and raised in Japan with strong ties to Shizuoka, one of the country’s most renowned tea producing regions, she was inspired by the struggles of local tea farmers facing declining demand and limited market access. While still a student, she set out to create a brand that could share their products and stories beyond Japan, beginning with the Philippines. Driven by a passion for cultural preservation and entrepreneurship, Motohashi is focused on building Chotto Matcha into a cross cultural brand that supports producers, celebrates Japanese heritage, and redefines matcha for a new generation.

Visit www.techshake.asia if you would like to know and connect more with Chotto Matcha.