This month's tea-trade coverage shows two parallel stories: a cost squeeze hitting green tea even as rice prices fall, and a set of institutional milestones -- certifications, award streaks, and anniversary editions of major tea events -- that signal the industry's long memory.

Price data from August 2025 shows green tea costs rising far faster than overall inflation, while structural figures on organic acreage targets, tea-taster credentials, and export streaks point to where the industry is investing for the future.

The stats

Copy any line — each figure is credited to the outlet that reported it, compiled by Matcha Wire.
  • Japan's current organic tea acreage stands at 5 ha — reported by The Japan Food Journal on 17 September 2026. # Read the story ↗
  • Japan's organic tea acreage target for 2028 is 150 ha — reported by The Japan Food Journal on 17 September 2026. # Read the story ↗
  • Green tea prices rose 31.5% year-on-year in August 2025 — reported by Yomiuri Shimbun on 18 September 2026. # Read the story ↗
  • Rice prices fell 15.7% year-on-year in August 2025 — reported by Yomiuri Shimbun on 18 September 2026. # Read the story ↗
  • Overall consumer prices excluding fresh food rose 1.7% year-on-year in August 2025 — reported by Yomiuri Shimbun on 18 September 2026. # Read the story ↗
  • Household consumables prices rose 10.1% year-on-year in August 2025 — reported by Yomiuri Shimbun on 18 September 2026. # Read the story ↗
  • Tea-taster certification holders reached 2,460 as of May 2026 — reported by eleminist.com on 16 September 2026. # Read the story ↗
  • Japan has posted record tea exports for 14 consecutive years — reported by Yomiuri Shimbun Online on 1 September 2026. # Read the story ↗
  • Japan counts 12,325 active tea farmers — reported by Specialty Matcha Podcast on 3 September 2026. # Read the story ↗
  • Only 1% of Shizuoka's tea gardens grow heritage tea varieties — reported by Shizuoka Shimbun on 6 September 2026. # Read the story ↗
Organic Tea Acreage: Current vs 2028 Target — Current: 5 ha; 2028 Target: 150 ha. Reported by The Japan Food Journal.
Figure 1The target represents a steep expansion from today's footprint.
The numbers behind this chart
Organic Tea Acreage: Current vs 2028 TargetValue (ha)
Current5 ha
2028 Target150 ha
Data: The Japan Food Journal · compiled by Matcha Wire Download data (CSV)
August 2025 Price Moves: Tea, Rice, Consumables, CPI — Green tea: 31.5%; Household consumables: 10.1%; Rice (decline): 15.7%; Overall CPI (ex. fresh food): 1.7%. Reported by Yomiuri Shimbun.
Figure 2Green tea prices rose far faster than overall inflation, while rice prices fell sharply.
The numbers behind this chart
August 2025 Price Moves: Tea, Rice, Consumables, CPIValue (%)
Green tea31.5%
Household consumables10.1%
Rice (decline)15.7%
Overall CPI (ex. fresh food)1.7%
Data: Yomiuri Shimbun · compiled by Matcha Wire Download data (CSV)
Certified Tea Tasters — Tea-taster certification holders: 2,460 people. Reported by eleminist.com.
Figure 3The credential network keeps growing as quality standards expand.
The numbers behind this chart
Certified Tea TastersValue (people)
Tea-taster certification holders2,460 people
Data: eleminist.com · compiled by Matcha Wire Download data (CSV)
Tea Export Growth Streak — Consecutive record-export years: 14 years. Reported by Yomiuri Shimbun Online.
Figure 4Japan's tea exports have set a new record every year for over a decade.
The numbers behind this chart
Tea Export Growth StreakValue (years)
Consecutive record-export years14 years
Data: Yomiuri Shimbun Online · compiled by Matcha Wire Download data (CSV)
Yame Gyokuro Award Streaks — Minister's Awards: 4 years; District-level Awards: 26 years. Reported by nishinippon.co.jp.
Figure 5Yame's gyokuro producers have held regional dominance for over two decades.
The numbers behind this chart
Yame Gyokuro Award StreaksValue (years)
Minister's Awards4 years
District-level Awards26 years
Data: nishinippon.co.jp · compiled by Matcha Wire Download data (CSV)
Milestone Editions of Japan's Tea Events — National Tea Competition: 80; Tea Festival (Mainichi): 75; Regional Tea Competition: 73. Reported by Mainichi Shimbun, The Japan Food Journal.
Figure 6Japan's tea institutions trace back generations, with one marking its 80th edition.
The numbers behind this chart
Milestone Editions of Japan's Tea EventsValue (edition)
National Tea Competition80
Tea Festival (Mainichi)75
Regional Tea Competition73
Data: Mainichi Shimbun, The Japan Food Journal · compiled by Matcha Wire Download data (CSV)
Matcha Market Snapshot — Brands exhibited: 40 count; Products surveyed: 350 count. Reported by Specialty Matcha Podcast.
Figure 7The matcha field now spans hundreds of products across dozens of brands.
The numbers behind this chart
Matcha Market SnapshotValue (count)
Brands exhibited40 count
Products surveyed350 count
Data: Specialty Matcha Podcast · compiled by Matcha Wire Download data (CSV)
Active Tea Farmers in Japan — Active tea farmers: 12,325. Reported by Specialty Matcha Podcast.
Figure 8The farmer base remains the backbone of Japan's tea economy.
The numbers behind this chart
Active Tea Farmers in JapanValue (farmers)
Active tea farmers12,325
Data: Specialty Matcha Podcast · compiled by Matcha Wire Download data (CSV)
Heritage Tea Gardens in Shizuoka — Heritage tea garden share: 1%. Reported by Shizuoka Shimbun.
Figure 9Heritage varieties remain a niche slice of Shizuoka's tea gardens.
The numbers behind this chart
Heritage Tea Gardens in ShizuokaValue (%)
Heritage tea garden share1%
Data: Shizuoka Shimbun · compiled by Matcha Wire Download data (CSV)

As always, every figure above belongs to the outlet that first reported it; Matcha Wire only compiles and compares them.

Methodology

Figures are compiled exactly as reported across 79 tracked tea-trade articles from Japanese business, consumer and trade outlets in September 2026, with no values derived, rounded or converted.