News article
Shizuoka Reclaims Top Spot in First-Flush Tea Production with 10,700 Tons, Surpassing Kagoshima After Two Years
Shizuoka Prefecture's 2026 first-flush (一番茶) rough tea output reached 10,700 tons, a 32% year-on-year increase, returning it to the top position in national production after Kagoshima held the rank in 2025. Favorable weather during April–May growth period, when Shizuoka had experienced suppressed development the prior year, drove the recovery. Kagoshima's output rose 14% to 9,610 tons, placing second.
静岡：一番茶生産量１位奪還 １万７００トン ２年ぶり鹿児島上回る ：地域ニュース - 読売新聞
Key points
- Shizuoka's first-flush production: 10,700 tons, +32% YoY; regains national #1 after one-year loss to Kagoshima.
- Kagoshima second at 9,610 tons (+14% YoY); Mie third at 2,150 tons (+11% YoY).
- 2025 cold April–May temperatures had suppressed Shizuoka growth; 2026 favorable conditions reversed the trend.
- First-flush tea commands premium prices as the year's earliest and highest-quality harvest.
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About this article
The numbers
Shizuoka first-flush production 2026: 10,700 tonnes
Kagoshima first-flush production 2026: 9,610 tonnes
Mie first-flush production 2026: 2,150 tonnes
What they said
“I am very pleased. Going forward, as Japan's leading tea-producing region, we will work in unity with all tea industry stakeholders to pursue the sustainable development of Shizuoka's tea industry.”
大変うれしく思う。今後とも日本のリーディング茶産地として、茶業関係者と一丸となり、本県茶業の持続的な発展に取り組んでまいりたい
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