Our Story
Founded in 2012, HAPPY HUNTER is the first tea specialty store in India operated by a Japanese tea professional. It is also a pioneer, being the first foreigner-owned shop to open in Hauz Khas Market.
At the heart of HAPPY HUNTER is a simple belief: growing together.
With the hope of fulfilling people’s lives for generations to come, we build long-term relationships with the producers we work with.
Together with HAPPY HUNTER, the producers develop reliable skills and continuously improve the quality of their products. Through this shared effort, carefully crafted, high-quality products find their way to HAPPY HUNTER.
This journey takes time. Yet by creating products that customers continue to love, stable demand grows, bringing lasting opportunities to the producers who make them.
With steady work, producers are able to plan for the future — sending their children to better schools, investing in improved equipment, and strengthening their craft.
Even if they one day move on from working with HAPPY HUNTER, the skills they have developed remain with them. These skills become a lasting foundation that allows them to build their future with confidence.
Our hope is simple: that everyone involved is happy — the producers, our customers, and HAPPY HUNTER as the bridge connecting them.
HAPPY HUNTER will continue to work closely with our producers, striving for better quality and growing together.
Meet Hiroko - Our Tea Taster
Owner Hiroko Ishii spent her childhood in New Delhi, India, due to her father's job. Since 1991, she has been living in India with her family.
Having spent most of her life in India, Ishii began to contemplate working in a field related to India to give back to this country someday.
During her student days, she became interested in fair trade and researched non-formal education in India. Later, she resonated strongly with the philosophy of fair trade and sustainable society development promoted by Makaibari Tea Estate.
Under the guidance of her tea mentor who is committed to sustainable society development, Mr. Rajah Banerjee, Ishii learned about tea and became a tea expert. She then started HAPPY HUNTER as the base for her activities.
Our Philosophy
Our Work
Hiroko visits producers across India, discovering sparkling works.
By adding the essence of HAPPY HUNTER to these products, they continue activities that allow those items to take flight into the world.
Products from producers who do not have stores are illuminated, and continuous orders come from HAPPY HUNTER.
Without having to go to the city for work, one can create good things beside their family and receive compensation for it.
Hiroko believes this is the sustainable and happy way of living.
The Spirit of HAPPY HUNTER
HAPPY HUNTER.
As the name suggests, Ishii will find and deliver "HAPPY" to everyone.
HAPPY HUNTER acts as a bridge between producers and customers, delivering a lot of "HAPPY" through products.
