Wazuka town in Kyoto is one of the traditional tea growing areas.
Last Sunday, Kontai temple at Wazuka held an annual memorial service for tea trees whose roles are completed. The monks lit a holy fire for the trees and prayed for prosperity their tea industry with local people attending. I believe they consider tea a gift from nature. So, since olden times, people living with tea there have treasured tea and showed their respects and appreciations to tea.
Their tea, especially Sencha, often enjoyed the highest-price in the spring auction. Maybe, local people’s prayers are granted and a tea god has watched over this town.
