Jakarta, 6 June 2024 — ITO EN Ltd., the producer of the world’s number one unsweetened green tea brand “Oi Ocha,” has recently appointed Shohei Ohtani, a Japanese baseball athlete from the Los Angeles Dodgers, as the global ambassador for ITO EN’s “Oi Ocha.” The world-renowned athlete Shohei Ohtani introduces the benefits of Japanese green tea to the entire world, including Indonesia, where green tea is also known for its benefits in promoting mental health tranquility.
The President and CEO of ITO EN Ltd., Daisuke Honjo, said: “Appointing Shohei Ohtani is a step by ITO EN’s ‘Oi Ocha’ to introduce Asian, particularly Japanese, green tea, which is beneficial for health. Moreover, behind its authentic taste, green tea is more than just a thirst-quenching beverage; it can also bring tranquility.”
“Tea contains high levels of antioxidants and the amino acid L-theanine, particularly found in green tea, which can improve concentration and have a relaxing effect without causing drowsiness. Regular consumption of unsweetened tea, along with healthy lifestyle habits such as getting enough sleep and regular exercise, can help reduce common symptoms of anxiety that lead to stress and depression,” Daisuke continued.
PT ITO EN Ultrajaya Wholesale, as ITO EN’s partner in Indonesia, also welcomes the initiative to promote the consumption of unsweetened tea for people of all ages, which can reduce stress hormone levels and has excellent long-term health benefits.
“Oi Ocha is My Green Tea, My Soul. Every day, there’s green tea that reflects my spirit and soul, besides always being my faithful companion. Oi Ocha is also rich in benefits, and coupled with balanced rest and exercise habits, green tea can calm the body and mind. I also would like to share this experience with people all over the world,” expressed Shohei Ohtani.
In the future, as the Global Ambassador of “Oi Ocha” from ITO EN, Shohei Ohtani is preparing new initiatives to spread the culture of Japanese tea and further contribute to making a positive impact through the green tea drinking movement with the global community worldwide.
About Athlete Shohei Ohtani
Ohtani was born in Iwate Prefecture in 1994. Standing at 193 cm tall and weighing 95 kg, Ohtani pitches with his right hand and bats left-handed. He was the first overall pick in the 2012 NPB draft when he joined the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, where he gained attention as a two-way player. In 2016, he contributed to the Fighters’ championship in Japan by excelling in both pitching and hitting, earning him the Pacific League MVP title. In 2021, he was crowned the American League MVP after hitting 46 home runs as a batter and winning 9 games as a pitcher; in 2023, he had a historic season, becoming the first Japanese player in history to win the American League home run title while also achieving double-digit wins and home runs for the second consecutive year. In 2024, Ohtani joined the Los Angeles Dodgers, further solidifying his career as a global athlete. As an inspirational sports figure, Shohei Ohtani’s story was featured in a Disney documentary titled “Shohei Ohtani: Beyond the Dream”.
Company Profile ITO EN
Based on the Group’s management philosophy of “Customer First”, our mission is to assist our customers in leading healthy and prosperous lives and to help create a sustainable society. We are committed to providing the best taste and value of “Japanese” tea to customers of all ages. To realize our long-term vision as a “Global Tea Company,” we will continue to promote “Oi Ocha” as a representative Japanese brand worldwide, connecting with tea culture in various regions around the world, and creating new tea cultures and markets globally through ITO EN Group’s technology and value chain. Through the strong partnerships we have built with all stakeholders since our establishment, we will continue to contribute to the healthy and prosperous lives of our customers in Japan and around the world. Our products are already certified HALAL in some countries.
The World’s Number 1 Green Tea Beverage Brand “Oi Ocha”
Oi Ocha, the flagship brand of ITO EN and the world’s number one unsweetened green tea brand, celebrated its 35th anniversary in February 2024 and has sold over 43 billion bottles since its launch in 1989. Tea has become a part of our lives as a communication tool that connects people, and it is a familiar beverage as a daily necessity. Since its predecessor, the world’s first canned green tea “Sencha in a Can,” was launched in 1985, the “Oi Ocha” brand has continued to grow based on our technological capabilities to evolve with changing drinking styles over time and our ability to source high-quality raw materials (tea leaves) through initiatives such as tea production area cultivation businesses. In overseas markets, the value of “Oi Ocha” has been well-received, and the number of customers (fans) enjoying this beverage continues to increase in North America, Southeast Asia, and other regions. As of March 2024, Oi Ocha products have been sold in more than 40 countries and territories. The collaboration between Shohei Ohtani and “Oi Ocha” successfully achieved the Guinness World Records as the largest-consumed unsweetened green tea brand globally. The visual campaign became the first and largest advertising campaign ever conducted by Oi Ocha ITO EN and appeared in 84 renowned locations worldwide.
