Japanese Tea Report – August 2025

By SimonaTea Reports

As the tea seasons pass one after another, this year’s results have begun to emerge. For the first time since records began in 1991, Shizuoka Prefecture has fallen behind Kagoshima Prefecture in the production volume of ichibancha. Last year, Kagoshima had already surpassed Shizuoka in total tea production, while Shizuoka remained in the lead for ichibancha. This year, however, Shizuoka’s ichibancha production fell by 19% to 8,120 tons, while Kagoshima’s output held steady at 8,440 tons.

In Kyoto, the auction closed on 1st August, with traded volumes of ichibancha down 13% from last year due to low night temperatures in April. The situation for matcha in Kyoto remains challenging, as prices have surged by about 270% compared to last year, likely driven by demand from international visitors and social media trends. In response, Ito En has announced that it will raise matcha prices by 1.5 to 2 times starting in September.

Exports continue to expand, especially for matcha, reaching 26.3 billion yen between January and June. In Asia, Thailand has emerged as the leading importer of Japanese tea, fueled by health-conscious trends and a growing interest in Japanese cuisine.

Several tea competitions also took place across Japan this month. The Kansai Tea Competition, involving six prefectures, was held in Kyoto. A total of 342 teas competed across five categories: regular sencha, deep-steamed sencha, kabusecha, gyokuro, and tencha. Kyoto teas won four of the five categories, with the exception of deep-steamed sencha. The Hand-rolled Tea Competition was also held this month, featuring 87 teas from 16 prefectures. The winner was Takahashi Mano from Iruma City, Saitama Prefecture. Iruma also secured the regional award for the 20th consecutive year.

Among the sad news, on 14th August Japan and the world lost a great figure of tea: Sen Genshitsu, formerly known as Sen Sōshitsu XV, the fifteenth-generation head of the Urasenke school of tea. He passed away at the age of 102. Devoting his life to promoting peace through tea, Sen Genshitsu’s legacy will continue to inspire practitioners across the world.

At the same time, local initiatives continue to nurture tea traditions. In Nara Prefecture, Ikoma City has introduced a new Takayama chasen experience combining a chasen-making demonstration, a kaiseki meal, and a candlelit tea ceremony. In Mandokoro, Shiga Prefecture, where some farmers still hand-pick tea, a crowdfunding campaign has been launched to renew the community’s factory machines. Visitors to the Fujinokuni Tea Museum in Shimada, Shizuoka Prefecture, can also view traditional refining equipment and learn about sorting, blending, and firing. To support the busy autumn season, a weekend and holiday bus service in Kyoto will begin between Uji City and Wazuka Town, making it easier for visitors to enjoy the scenic tea-growing region.

With shifts in production, rising demand abroad, and local efforts to sustain tradition, Japanese tea continues to stand at the intersection of change and continuity, connecting the past with the future.

 

*The article is based on Japanese media articles:

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