ShizuokaTea.com, KagoshimaTea.com, and GreenTeaMerchant were founded by Kent Rhoads.
We always honor Kent’s spirit of providing high-quality tea and customer service, and our commitment is to always retain the same level of service to all the customers.
Our first blog post is dedicated to the memory of Kent.
The following is written by Kent’s twin brother, Kirk.
Kent Roy Rhoads (09/03/1952-01/25/2020)
Kent Rhoads, founder of GreenTeaMerchant, was a pioneer of Japanese green tea internet sales from Shizuoka and Kagoshima Prefectures. Born in Columbus, Kansas and educated in Coffeyville, Kansas, he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration and Accounting from the University of Kansas, and a MBA Degree from Whittier College.
Kent worked in the Appliance Industry for over 25 years in Los Angeles County, California. In 1998 he moved to Japan, and following in the footsteps of his late Mother, Marlys, he became an English teacher at the University level, and like his late Father, Jack, also an entrepreneur, he started GreenTeaMerchant in the year 2000.
Kent is respectfully and fondly remembered by many in the green tea industry in Japan, and by thousands of loyal retail and wholesale Japanese green tea patrons throughout the world.
He is survived by two older sisters, two older brothers, an aunt, an uncle, numerous loving cousins, nieces and nephews, and the love of his life in Japan, Saiko Sugiyama.
Thank you very much, Kei, for dedicating your first blog post to Kent’s memory. My family and I truly appreciate your kind and thoughtful gesture.
Hi Kirk,
Thank you very much for your comment and your kindness in sharing about Mr. Kent’s life in this writing.
Honor is ours to be able to share and continue his legacy.
I hope to always remind ourselves to keep the standard high as Mr. Kent did.
Sincerely,
Kei Nishida
Thank you for the the memory of my brother Kent. I cared for him deeply.
Sincerely,
Jeanne Dickerson
Twenty years ago, I served at the U.S. Consulate in Nagoya as Commercial Consul and considered Kent Rhoads as my key American contact in Shizuoka. I again visited from Embassy Tokyo in 2015 and celebrated with him all of his business success. His memorial will include the warm relationships that he built as an American abroad, and Kent will be much missed.
Thank you for your kind words and remembrance, Stephen. Warm regards, Kirk Rhoads
My husband and I had the opportunity to visit Kent, Saiko and Tomiki in Shizuoka a few years ago. I’d known him since high school in Coffeyville but hadn’t seen him other than HS reunions since then. He and his friends met up with us, introduced us to a wonderful restaurant where Saiko selected the most wonderful dishes. Kent guided us to a wonderful hotel that used to be a Samurai castle. What a gracious person Kent was.
Thank you for dedicating this blog to Kent’s memory, I loved my brother dearly.
Sincerely
Jane Stockton,
I had the chance to work with Mr. Kent for more than 3 years, for my small Tea Supply business in Cyprus.
Though I didn’t had the opportunity to physically meet him, I must say he has been a valuable business partner that has helped me a lot! Always honest, gentle, professional and offering amazing quality of product!
Mr Kirk, Kent’s brother has been amazing helping us, after Mr Kent’s passing.
Wishing the best to the family!
Nikolas
Thank you very much for the kind thoughts, Nikolas. My family and I wish you all the very best.
I only had the pleasure of speaking to Kent over email. Yet, while inquiring about business as usual, my heart sank when I was told he was no longer with us.
I’ve conversed with many people from different parts of the world for business purposes; no one comes close to how warm and welcoming Kent was when he was dealing with my nagging emails. He didn’t even know me, yet he helped me far more than I expected.
I was thousands of miles away and he left a pleasant impression on me. It’s funny but every time I think green tea or Matcha, I think Kent.
God bless his kind soul. He is in a far better place now.
Thank you so very much for your kind words. Saad.
Thanks for uploading this blog. I never met Kent in person but I dealt with him for over 10 years when I first found out about his company. He was always a real gentleman and a pleasure to do business with. Sadly missed.
Thank you, Mark.
Thank you very much sharing more about Kent, Kei! It is very helpful to now understand the beginnings of Green Tea Merchant.
Glad to have made contact with you, Heman.
I think he was among the kindest people around. He always acknowledged messages and was so helpful. He gave you the feeling that he understood what your taste was and would suggest new teas to try. Rarely does one feel blessed doing business like this.
Thank you ? for sharing, Muriel.
Great story Kei. Thanks a lot for sharing, it’s good to know the history of green tea and how it all started.
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