For many years, we have engaged with the sea, transforming its bounty into diverse forms to pass on Yamahira's legacy.
The history of Yamahira Co., Ltd. began in 1890 (Meiji 23), when Kiyo Hirano opened a fish shop called Hirano Shoten in Okinohata, Yanagawa. At that time, it was uncommon for women to actively participate in the workforce. However, Kiyo, who had a fondness for sake and a natural talent for interacting with people, offered sake—referred to as "tea"—to fishermen at dawn, wishing for their safety and abundant catches. This practice earned the shop the nickname Yoakejaya ("Dawn Teahouse").
On the Other Hand, Okinohata has long been known as a ‘Treasure Sea,’ one of the main fishing ports of the Ariake Sea, and our company expanded its business from a fresh fish shop to a fishing supplier. There is also a nearby fish market, where we used our sharp eye for selecting seafood to bid on fish and distribute them both within and outside the city. We directly shipped Ariake Sea’s Tairagi (a type of clam) to the Tsukiji market in Tokyo, and at one point, our handling volume ranked among the top five in the country. The auction process was a race against time, so each company often had a nickname to be easily called by. Our company adopted the name ‘Yamahira,’ combining ‘Hira’ from ‘Hirano Shoten’ and ‘Yama’ from our desire to grow and reach the peak of success through our business. This name became the foundation of our company’s name.
