We exhibited at the Takarazuka NGO Activities Exhibition on March 8th and 9th in Takarazuka City, Hyogo Prefecture as a student circle called “Socie-Tea.” We are a group of students who love tea and organize activities and events to promote Japanese tea to more people. As the Kansai branch of our circle, with some of our members studying in Hyogo, we had the opportunity to participate in this exhibition. 
The purpose of this event is to introduce the activities of international NGOs operating in Takarazuka City. We participated as a student organization dedicated to promoting Japanese culture alongside international students. The event featured fascinating exhibitions and charity goods sales by various NGOs engaged in international cooperation, as well as student groups supporting developing countries. Many visitors attended and enjoyed exploring the different booths. At our booth, we introduced tencha and matcha, demonstrating how to grind tencha into matcha using an ishiusu (stone mill). Participants enjoyed comparing the two teas and learning about Japanese tea through a quiz we prepared. We were delighted to meet so many Japanese tea enthusiasts and share our love for tea with them. 
While matcha is widely known, many people were unfamiliar with tencha. This led to meaningful conversations about the process of making matcha, the different methods of tea production, and the unique characteristics of tencha. Through our presentations, we reaffirmed our passion for Japanese tea and the joy of sharing it with others. We hope to continue expanding the community of Japanese tea lovers and preserving Japan’s rich tea culture through various events. By the way, this event is held annually, and we plan to participate again next year. Stay tuned and see you next time!
Here is the official HP of Socie-tea
Here is the instagram !