Japanese tea industry news in English
Tencha Prices Jump 2.6-Fold to 8,562 Yen a Kilogram
Tencha export prices hit 8,562 yen per kilogram in 2025, up 2.6 times year-on-year, as Japan's matcha boom reshapes tea production nationwide.
Kyoto & Uji · Market & Trade · Matcha
$75/mo · cancel anytime
Shizuoka students promote rare heritage tea variety
Students at Shizuoka University's tea circle are working to revive interest in zairai-cha (heritage tea), a traditional Japanese variety now accounting for just 1% of the prefecture's tea gardens. Each plant has distinct characteristics and flavor profile. The group is researching production methods, building connections with growers in other prefectures, and hosting a heritage tea summit on the 22nd in Fuji City.
Kyushu (other) · Awards · Market & Trade
$75/mo · cancel anytime
Kagoshima · National · Market & Trade
$75/mo · cancel anytime
Kyushu (other) · Awards · Market & Trade
$75/mo · cancel anytime
Kyushu (other) · Awards · Industry
$75/mo · cancel anytime
National · Overseas · Matcha
$75/mo · cancel anytime
By the Numbers: August 2026
Korean green tea exports grew 45% year-on-year, the largest reported move in August's tea-trade coverage.
Kyushu (other) · National · Awards
$75/mo · cancel anytime
Kyushu (other) · Matcha · Market & Trade
$75/mo · cancel anytime
National · Kagoshima · Awards
$75/mo · cancel anytime
Kyoto & Uji · Market & Trade · Matcha
$75/mo · cancel anytime
Uji tencha wins National Tea Competition
The 80th National Tea Competition, judged August 25–28 in Saga Prefecture, awarded its top tencha honors to Uji City producers. Kyoto Prefecture took the top five places in the tencha category and the top four in kabusecha, with Uji City claiming the regional award for tencha and Ayabe City for kabusecha. A total of 814 entries from eight categories competed nationally; Kyoto submitted 140 entries across four categories.
Uji tea market hits record 12.94 billion yen
Japan's green tea exports climbed to approximately 720 billion yen in 2025, up from 204 billion yen in 2021.
National tea appraisal competition draws 120 young experts
The 73rd National Tea Appraisal Skills Competition will be held September 5, 2026, at Shizuoka Tea Market, bringing together approximately 120 young tea professionals and successors (under 45) from 13 regions across Japan to compete in identifying tea variety, harvest season, and origin by appearance, aroma, and taste alone. The event marks the first time in a decade that Shizuoka tea youth group will host the competition and notably includes two special invited competitors f…
Kagoshima · Overseas · Matcha
$75/mo · cancel anytime
National · Overseas · Market & Trade
$75/mo · cancel anytime
Kyushu (other) · Awards · Market & Trade
$75/mo · cancel anytime
National · Overseas · Market & Trade
$75/mo · cancel anytime
Kagoshima · Market & Trade · Matcha
$75/mo · cancel anytime
Overseas · Market & Trade · Matcha
$75/mo · cancel anytime
Kyoto & Uji · Kagoshima · Awards
$75/mo · cancel anytime
Shizuoka · Market & Trade · Matcha
$75/mo · cancel anytime
