YMY × MOHEIM - Part 1

Takeuchi
Before we begin, I had the pleasure of trying YMY’s gyokuro herbal blend tea, “HAJIMARU (AWAKE).” The deep, rich umami of the gyokuro really stands out. It’s actually been a while since I last experienced such an authentic cup of gyokuro.

Imai
The one you chose blends gyokuro with mandarin orange peel, yuzu, and spearmint. It features the rich umami of gyokuro balanced by the light, refreshing aftertaste of citrus and mint.

Generally, it’s said that gyokuro is best brewed at a lower temperature of about 50 to 60°C. However, YMY’s gyokuro herbal blend teas are specially crafted to taste delicious even when brewed with hot water at 90°C. While traditional gyokuro and Japanese tea are typically brewed using loose tea leaves, all YMY products are thoughtfully made in tea bag form.

Takeuchi
Tea bags make it so easy and accessible. Gyokuro often carries an image of being a bit intimidating, but I really feel that YMY is introducing a “new way to enjoy tea.” Could you tell me a little more about the brand?

Imai
YMY is a brand dedicated to bringing enrichment to both your mind and body. Through our products and menus featuring gyokuro and a variety of other natural ingredients, we hope to offer people a moment to pause and reconnect with themselves.

The brand is produced by Yamamotoyama, a tea merchant founded in 1690 that actually invented gyokuro and was the first to sell Japanese tea in tea bags in Japan. While drawing on this extensive heritage, our goal is to share the appeal of gyokuro even further and deliver products that truly fit today’s lifestyle.

Our shop, “YMY GYOKURO TEAROOM” in Futako-Tamagawa, is a welcoming space where people can easily drop by while out and about. We hope this accessibility makes it a place that the younger generation can easily connect with as well.

Takeuchi
I’ve truly experienced firsthand just how accessible and enjoyable gyokuro can be, and how absolutely delicious it becomes when blended with ingredients like herbs.

Imai
People often view gyokuro as unfamiliar or requiring a lot of expertise, but at YMY, we focus on providing experiences that serve as a welcoming entryway to discovering its true appeal.
By blending gyokuro with natural botanicals like herbs, fruits, and spices, we’ve created comforting aromas and a visually beautiful presentation. While keeping gyokuro as our foundation, we are deeply committed to expanding everyone’s perspective on what tea can be.

Takeuchi
There are many different varieties to choose from.

Imai
We offer five types of gyokuro herbal blend teas. Each one combines gyokuro with herbs, spices, or seasonal fruits in a perfectly balanced blend, allowing you to choose based on your current “mood.” We also have the “roasted gyokuro herbal blend tea” line, featuring these exact same five blends with roasted stems, so we always have a total of ten varieties available. In addition, we offer several options of single-origin gyokuro teas without any herb blends, including hand-plucked gyokuro.

Takeuchi
The drawings on the packaging are also incredibly beautiful. They perfectly match the sensation of the tea gently infusing into the body.

Imai
They were created by Michelle Armas, an artist based in the United States. Our current head, Yamamoto herself, actually held a web meeting with her, explaining the brand while she enjoyed the tea samples we had sent. She then allowed her imagination to flourish from that experience to create these pieces. She is an artist who excels in abstract paintings using color-bleeding techniques, and the moment we saw her artwork, we felt it truly embodied “YMY.” That was the biggest reason we decided to collaborate with her.

Takeuchi
MOHEIM’s WATER BOTTLE was selected for the YMY brand—could you share the story behind how that happened?

Imai
At YMY, we really wanted people who don’t usually drink tea to experience the flavors of gyokuro, and we hoped that tea could naturally become a part of people’s everyday lifestyles. With that in mind, we were searching for “teaware like nothing before.” We were looking for a design that was simple yet somehow eye-catching, and that was when MOHEIM’s WATER BOTTLE caught our attention.

Above all, what made it truly unique was that the design makes you want to carry it with you outside, yet also keep it displayed at home. It’s what you might call an exquisite sense of color—the sophisticated hues, the gentle yet not overly sweet aesthetic, and its simple presence that somehow commands attention. It’s a bottle that truly captivates people.

Takeuchi
Creating a “design that naturally blends into the interior” was exactly what we wanted to achieve with MOHEIM’s WATER BOTTLE. While most water bottles prioritize functionality, we developed this one with the precise mindset of making a bottle people would truly want to use even at home. Hearing you say that means a lot to me. We aimed for a design and texture unlike anything before, so I am incredibly happy to receive that feedback.

Imai
The lid and spout also have a beautiful, natural texture when you touch them. I love how you can feel a subtle difference in the texture of each individual piece. Sometimes, when a product is this beautiful, you feel like you have to handle it with extreme caution every time you wash it—but since the body is made of durable Tritan™, it makes it worry-free.

Takeuchi
We went through endless fine-tuning for the lid and spout—not just for the colors, but also for the exact way the patterns appear. I also think the YMY logo featured on the main body is really charming.

Imai
That logo actually inherits our famous heritage catchphrase: “Yamamotoyama, read the same whether forward or backward.” Although many in the younger generation today have never actually seen the original TV commercial, we wanted to reflect that catchy essence in the design. “YMY” is a three-letter word that is perfectly symmetrical, reading the same from either direction. This design also embodies our core philosophy in the world of tea—the idea of “relying solely on the pure essentials, without adding anything unnecessary.”

Takeuchi
So, in addition to that famous catchphrase, their core philosophy and vision are truly reflected within this logo as well.

Continued to “YMY x MOHEIM × MOHEIM – Part 2” – coming soon.