Happy Tea Day! - Green and Black -

October 31st is one of the two "Japanese (green) tea day" known as "Nihoncha-no-Hi". This is based on this story; A Japanese Buddhist priest, Yosai (also known as Eisai ), brought back some tea seeds to Japan from China on October 31, 1191.

The other "Nihoncha-no-Hi" is October 1st. This is to commemorate the Grand Kitano Tea Ceremony at the Kitano Tenmangu Shrine in Kyoto,hosted by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, a preeminent feudal lord, on October 1, 1587.

As for today, Halloween is much bigger in Japan....but anyway, happy "Nihoncha" day!

Followed by Japanese green tea day, November 1st is black tea day known as “Kocha-no-hi” set by Japan (Black) Tea Association in 1983 to boost the consumption of the tea. 

 

It is because that November 1^st  is “considered” the very first day when Japanese ever had “black tea”. In 1783, the ship, which a Japanese guy named Daikokuya Kodayu was on, drifted on the way to Japan, but managed to reach the Russian mainland. People there kindly saved his life and he stayed for a while. Fortunately, he was granted an audience with Catherine the Great and obtained permission to return to his country, and even invited to her tea party on November 1^st. This is why the day was chosen as “black tea day” in Japan.

 

Whether the story is true or not, happy "kocha (black tea)" day too!

Mizuhiki Teapot

"Mizuhiki” is a traditional colored paper cord to tie a wrapping gift to show thanks or respect. A friend of mine, a Mizuhiki artist, creates various things with Mizuhiki, bringing a breath of fresh air to the traditional cord. 

She made Mizuhiki teapot for me.

 As for white teapots, one is for a brooch, the other is for a pendant. Lovely!

Tea Garden in Osaka Castle 2

There is a small tea garden in Osaka castle as I posted before; 
http://japaneseteastory.blogspot.com/2019/07/tea-garden-in-osaka-castle.html

The other day, I joined the group who take care of them. After weeding, we helped prune and skiff this time so that the new buds will come out nicely in spring.

These shears are really heavy. We only worked for a couple of hours, but my arms were so sore:-(

After that, fertilize and water....

These tea were originally planted as one of the plants and flowers in the garden, not as tea production. Unfortunately, they had not been taken care of for long time, and there are still so many flowers and seeds, which is the sign for the trees to be about to die. 

Even so, I can see that they are bigger and healthier than last time. I am sure they will be fine. Keep growing, tea!

Good Design Award 2019

Locally-grown tea is called "Jikocha" in Japan. An annual locally-grown tea convention of tea growers and others at home and abroad has been held since 2002 to revitalize the local economy (tea industry) and community.

That "National Locally-Grown Tea Convention" won the Good Design Award  as　community development.

Here is the website of Good Design Award. Please have a look. The English in this website was done by me and my friend.

https://www.g-mark.org/award/describe/49709?token=uq4ErGMiRs