In Japan, November 1st is “the day of black tea” set by Japan Tea Association in 1983 to spread the consumption of black tea.
The question is… why "November 1st"?
Apparently, it was the very first day that Japanese ever had “black tea”. Who was the luckiest person? It was a Japanese castaway, named Daikokuya Kōdayū. In 1783, his ship drifted on the way to Japan, but managed to escape to the Russian mainland. People there saved his life and he stayed for a while. Eventually, he had Catherine the Great allow them to go back to Japan. During his stay, he was invited to her tea party, and had a cup of tea. This is why Nov 1st is chosen as “the day of black tea” in Japan.
He was not lucky to drift, but lucky enough to alive and come back to Japan, and have a nice cup of tea. Don’t you think?
