Photo/Illutration Atsushi Honma, president of Maple Laboratory Inc., holds a bottle of “Moyuruha” sparkling maple cider and a box of “Moyuruha” maple tea in Tajimi, Gifu Prefecture. (Noboru Tomura)

TAJIMI, Gifu Prefecture--A company here is giving Canada a run for its money over its maple leaf brand recognition, offering food and beverages made from leaves of the trees that are taking off as a “symbol of Japan” abroad.

Maple Laboratory Inc. is growing more than 3,000 Japanese maples in fields that occupy 5 hectares and processing harvested leaves into tea, cider and other products by using unique technologies for sale in and outside Japan.

In particular, components extracted from dried, sterilized maple leaves as well as edible dried maple leaves have sparked inquiries from restaurants not only in Tokyo's Ginza district but also in France and Spain, according to its founder and CEO, Atsushi Honma, 38.

“I hope I can make Tajimi the world capital of maple leaves,” he said.

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“Moyuruha” maple cider was sold as a set with a glass featuring a leaf-shaped motif that changes its color when a cold drink is poured into it. (Noboru Tomura)

The Japanese maple (acer palmatum), best known for its autumn color, has attracted keen interest overseas as a symbol of Japan regardless of the season, Honma said, something he plans to capitalize on.

“I want to expand the scope of food culture surrounding maples,” he said.

Maple Laboratory started sales of maple tea in 2012, a year after Honma established the company. It is produced by applying the deep-steaming method for green tea practiced in Shirakawa, also in Gifu Prefecture.

“Moyuruha” sparkling cider, which went on sale in 2013, is made using extracted maple leaf components.

In 2018, the company released a new version of maple tea, which is an even more vibrant red and comes with a set of 10 edible dried leaves.

Honma’s next project is to build a walking trail lined with maple trees near the company with the help of local residents to attract visitors.

“I want to plant more maples to cover the entire mountain with bright red (autumn foliage),” he said.

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A worker harvests edible maple leaves that have turned red in Tajimi, Gifu Prefecture, in November. (Noboru Tomura)

Honma, who lives in Kasugai, Aichi Prefecture, conducted research to find functional foods at university and graduate school. When, out of curiosity, he analyzed maple trees growing at the entrance to his lab, Honma discovered they contained a substantial amount of polyphenol.

His supervising professor advised him to start up a business related to the trees.

After finishing graduate school, Honma landed a job at a Tokyo company but he continued to look for farmland and a base for his business.

He chose Tajimi as the place to start it as it had a mountain fit for maple cultivation and because of generous support offered by the city government.

He founded the company in an office at the city-run start-up support center. He was soon allowed to rent 1.3 hectares or so of farmland in the Tsuzuharacho district after getting a referral from the city government.

He reclaimed abandoned agricultural fields to start cultivation of edible maple trees in 2011 before planting them also in nearby settlements to increase the harvest.

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