Introduction:
Listed below are the family members behind-the-scenes of Haraki-Gordon Green Tea, Inc. From farming, harvesting (picking), finishing, and packaging to business operations and marketing.

Tony Gordon
Owner and Founder of Haraki-Gordon Green Tea, Inc.
President and the Director of Marketing, US and International

"One of my greatest discoveries in my career was to find Haraki families' green tea and be provided the opportunity to market one of the most sought-after premium teas available in the entire world. Each time I visit the families' farm in Japan and work on the farm, I feel invigorated and renewed. The beauty and isolation in the mountains with the pristine air and clean, crisp water, fills my soul with humility and honor to work side-by-side the hard-working farmers that take such pride in their work and product. At night, after working on the farm, it seems like the entire milkyway brightens the sky over the fields. The beauty is unimaginable. People say it is due to the clean air. The people in the area are so laid back, honest, hard-working and friendly that sometimes they are intimidated by my foriegn appearence. Living in accordance with nature, using little waste to respect the natural flow of the area brings a tradition and ancient wisdom that has been passed down for generations. It is my mission to continue these traditions while delivering these wonderful teas to people around the world for the taste as well as the health benefits."

Izumi Haraki-Gordon
Co-owner of Haraki-Gordon Green Tea, Inc.
Vice President and Secretary/Product Developmemt and Marketing

"I never imagined that the American people would fall in love with our teas as much as they have. It took my husband a couple of months to convince me to talk to my parents about expanding the product over-seas. After my parents, it took another six months to convince my entire family to send sample to the US. Their impression was “American people drink coffee, not tea. Well, let Tony play around with it, and eventually he will give up and stick to his landscaping business.” Since then it has been 8 years and our business is growing strong. Everyday, I see and talk to customers who have had great experiences with our teas in terms of taste and health benefits. Some say the teas are their life lines, as they battle cancer. Others say it helped them lose 80 pounds. Cancer, weight loss, more engergy and a healthier pH balance. Whatever experiences they have and submit as their testimonials, makes me feel the decision was worth while. It rewards me that every time I hear that people are happy about our teas. Ever since Tony and I lost his mother to cancer, it has been our mission to reach out to people and make them aware that it is important to care about what they eat and how much they exercise. There are so many known and unknown factors that will cause cancers and bad health. To beat the odds, lets try to do right things for the health! "

Nobuichi Haraki
Hand-rolling Master/Expert on Tea, Farming & Picking

“I am making sure Tony and Izumi come back to live in Japan and take over the families tea farms which has been passed down to generation to generation.”





Takao Haraki
Farm owner/key farming operator/Holocalturist(tree doctor)
Japanese landscape Architect /Bonsai Tree Expert

“If you are treating trees and farming for over 40 years, you will know what tree needs by touching trees.”






Fujio Hino (Takao's younger brother)
Tea instructor/Tea master/Owner of Tea House

“I have taught Japanese people in Tokyo how to brew a good cup of tea and how to prepare tea in a good manner for years. Now I am retired and started a tea house in my home town. Close to my brother and everyone! Come and see me in my tea house and have a cup of tea and sweets I make from scrach everyday!!”






Hisako Haraki (Takao's wife)
Tea picking helper/Bookkeeper/Finance

“I have finally learned to “Skype” recently. It is great to see and talk to my daughter and my son in law every day whenever I wish.”








Takashi & Shige Moriwaki (Hisako's parents)
Farm owners/Tea farming/picking/process experts

“Every year, we wait for the best timing to pick the tea. One day sooner or one day later is not acceptable! It is our pride to deliver the best tasting teas.”



Kiyotaka Moriwake (Hisako's younger brother)
Farming/Picking experts and person in charge at farms

“I do my best to do the farming and operations for business efficiency, but without compromising the taste and quality of tea.”






Michiyo Moriwake (Kiyotaka's wife)
Tea picking helper/learning to be expert

“Ever since I married to my husband and come into this family, I have been learning to pick teas. It is labor intensive and hard working under the sun during the season day after day. But it is a family gathering place at farm.”








Haruhisa Maekawa (Hisako's cousin)
Tea Examminer/Tea Finishing Process Master/Owner of Processing plant/Packaging

“I started training my tongue since I was 12 -13 years old to be able to taste the difference in teas. And I train every day to retain my ability. It is important as a tea finishing master to be able to tell the difference in the taste at any given moment.”






Michiyo's Sister
Hand picking expert

“I live in city area but I always come and help pick teas in season. It is nice to pick teas with my younger sister, Michiyo and enjoy her company very much.”





Shuichi Mineoka (Midori's husband)
Tea picking helper/Takao's Assistant at farms in season, IT expert

“When I fisrt time helped my father in law (Takao) at tea farms, I could not get up the next day because my entire body was so sore. I have never realized that farming is such a labor intensive work. I am an IT guy and my regular work is to sit and stare the computer screen all day. If you want to be fit, then be a tea farmer!”








Midori Mineoka (Izumi's sister)
Tea picking helper/Business Operation Assistant for Izumi in Japan

“I help my sister, Izumi as much as I can while I am taking care of my kids. My oldest daughter, Nanami started learning how to pick teas since she was three years old. My sister and I always helped family at farms when we were kids. But then we got so bored easily, and goofed off. One time my sister and I were playing “Hide and Seek,” she ended up hiding and falling asleep in the tea leaf pile resting before being taken to steaming process.”



Nanami Mineoka (Shuichi and Midori's daughter)
“I pick tea leaf one by one along with my mother and father. Grandpa and grandma and everyone is at farms and they show me how to pick tea leaves.”




















Raiya Mineoka (Shuichi and Midori's son)
“when I grow up, I will pick tea leaves, too!”