Regional desk
Kyoto & Uji tea industry news
Updated · 127 free stories
Uji grows a fraction of Japan's tea and sets the price of the part everyone wants. The season's first tencha auction hit a ten-year high of ¥14,000 per kilogram, and the Uji tea market closed its 2026 season at a record ¥12.94 billion as the world queued for matcha's raw leaf.
The name is the other story. "Uji" is turning up on foreign-made matcha, and the region's answer runs from brand protection to the patient end of the craft — the hand-rolling tradition now in its 56th year of formal training. This desk follows the auctions, the market, the protection fight and the craft, from the Kyoto press, every morning.
The latest
- Uji Tea Sommelier Course Launches October 2026 Kyoto prefecture's Yamashiro Regional Promotion Bureau will offer a one-hour Uji Tea Sommelier course on October 20, 2026 (in-person) and December 11, 2026 (online), covering gyokuro brewing technique, Uji tea history, and culture. Participants who complete either format receive official certification. Registration is free; in-person sessions cap at 30 per slot, online at 20 per slot, with lottery selection if oversubscribed.
- Kettl founder discusses 16 years sourcing Japanese tea Kettl founder Zach Mangan shares insights from 16 years of Japanese tea sourcing, covering gogumi (tea blending) techniques learned from Masayoshi Koyama of Yamamasa Koyamaen, the history of single-estate matcha before the Meiji era, and the meaning of "Uji" on tea labels. The discussion extends to matcha sensory evaluation frameworks and how tasting other loose-leaf teas can deepen understanding of matcha.
- Uji tea pop-up brings stone-ground matcha to Matsudo A Kyoto-Uji tea specialist, Miyabuyanagimaruhoriwe, is opening a pop-up shop at Kitemite Matsudo shopping center from October 8 to 14. The pop-up will feature stone-ground matcha and autumn-limited green tea offerings.
- NHK program spotlights Uji matcha heritage NHK's morning information program Asaichi will air a segment on October 8 devoted to Kyoto and Uji, exploring national-treasure architecture and the matcha culture of the Uji region. The broadcast features guest appearances by actors Daichi Asai and Kaaho Miyake. The episode is part of the network's "Aidetai nippon" (愛でたいnippon) series celebrating Japan's regional heritage.
- Matcha research accelerates as global boom deepens Research into matcha's health effects has intensified alongside growing worldwide demand, with studies documenting benefits to cognitive function, allergy relief, muscle recovery, and brain capillary health. Recent findings from Japanese universities show that theanine and catechin in matcha improve attention and decision-making, suppress hay-fever sneezing by inhibiting brain-cell activity triggered by histamine, enhance muscle mass gains during strength training through ant…
Every open story
October 2026
- P.Seven launches Japan-Taiwan tea fragrance line Google News — Harvest / Competitions / Market
- Japan's matcha faces Chinese competition, price pressure Google News — Matcha / Tea Industry
- P.Seven debuts Japan-Taiwan tea fragrance line PR TIMES — Japanese Tea
September 2026
- Kyoto fair brings 1,900 products to Kagoshima MBC南日本放送
- Blue Bottle adds hand-whisked Uji matcha latte Google News — Matcha / Tea Industry
- Kyotanabe gyokuro festival draws regional guests Kyoto Shimbun — Tea / Uji
- Yamashiro food festival showcases matcha, regional products Kyoto Shimbun — Tea / Uji
- Shiga launches tea education in schools Asahi Shimbun Digital — Tea / Matcha
- Blue Bottle adds hand-whisked Uji matcha latte Lmaga.jp
- MAMIDORI debuts first collaboration dorayaki Google News — Matcha / Tea Industry
- Seven-Eleven roasted-tea smoothie from award-winning Uji merchant Google News — Uji / Kyoto
- MAMIDORI launches dorayaki collaboration Google News — Matcha / Tea Industry
- Blue Bottle adds hand-whisked Uji matcha latte Google News — Matcha / Tea Industry
- Yamashiro food festival features Uji tea Google News — Uji / Kyoto
- Gion Tsujiri matcha afternoon tea menu announced Asahi Shimbun Digital — Tea / Matcha
- Itoen positions Japanese tea value amid supply shift ITO EN — Newsroom
- Itoen debuts tea heritage campaign and GI-marked products PR TIMES — Japanese Tea
- Kizakura debuts matcha non-alcoholic drink Google News — Matcha / Tea Industry
- Blue Bottle adds hand-whisked Uji matcha latte PR TIMES — Matcha
- Kyoto confection Shitatari pairs with matcha Google News — Matcha / Tea Industry
- Ito Kyuemon opens 11th store in Nishiki Market Kyoto Shimbun — Tea / Uji
- Tart chain debuts hojicha and matcha autumn line Google News — Matcha / Tea Industry
- Hong Kong hotel debuts matcha afternoon tea menu みんなの経済新聞ネットワーク
- Five matcha sweets debut in September 2026 Google News — Uji / Kyoto
- Matchamon flagship store opens at Tokyo Station PR TIMES — Matcha
- MAMIDORI pop-up comes to Nagoya after strong Osaka run Google News — Matcha / Tea Industry
- Organic Yame tea meets kaiseki at Hakata hotel event ファンファン福岡
- Itoh Kyuemon opens 11th store in Nishiki Market Google News — Uji / Kyoto
- Yamato matcha enters cosmetics as regional beauty ingredient Google News — Matcha / Tea Industry
- Kyoto fair features trending matcha desserts in Tottori Google News — Overseas / Boom
August 2026
- Uji tencha wins National Tea Competition Google News — Harvest / Competitions / Market
- Uji tea houses revive matcha-drinking tradition Google News — Uji / Kyoto
- Tea educator discusses matcha farming and specialty tea Specialty Matcha Podcast
- Saint-Germain debuts Uji matcha fresh doughnut PR TIMES — Matcha
- Tea heritage advocate champions Ise tea revival Chunichi Shimbun — Tea / Nishio Aichi
- Ippodo evening tea tasting in central Tokyo Google News — Matcha / Tea Industry
- Saga matcha zenzai and heritage tofu walk Kyoto Shimbun — Tea / Uji
- Uji tea market peaks at 12.94 billion yen Google News — Matcha / Tea Industry
- Tea historian discusses terroir, shading, and matcha Specialty Matcha Podcast
- Japan matcha shortage; China captures 70% of global supply Google News — Shortage / Prices / Exports
- Matcha boom sustainability questioned as prices rise Asahi Shimbun Digital — Tea / Matcha
- QBB launches Uji matcha cheese ball PR TIMES — Matcha
- Hankyu Umeda matcha sweets market opens Google News — Matcha / Tea Industry
- Exchange students taste fried chicken in sencha Google News — Matcha / Tea Industry
- Marc Falzon and the 5%
- Kyo Hayashiya Kyoto reopens with heritage matcha sweets Google News — Matcha / Tea Industry
- Chinese matcha quality gains challenge Japan narrative Specialty Matcha Podcast
- Seven firsts: the company that names the farmer
- Uji merchant explains tea-brewing fundamentals Kyoto Shimbun — Tea / Uji
July 2026
- Yamamoto Yama modernizes Edo tea traditions Google News — Harvest / Competitions / Market
- Uji hand-rolling tea craft training marks 56th year Google News — Uji / Kyoto
- Defining Uji matcha: processing, origin, cultivar Specialty Matcha Podcast
- Counterfeit Uji matcha flooding China market FNNプライムオンライン（フジテレビ系）
- Thai matcha brand MTCH partners with Uji pottery Google News — Matcha / Tea Industry
- Uji marks first-flush season with family tea-picking event Google News — Harvest / Competitions / Market
- Japan registers Japanese tea as GI trademark Google News — Matcha / Tea Industry
- Uji matcha origin and trademark scope questioned Specialty Matcha Podcast
- Kyoto patisserie launches Uji matcha cream puff Google News — Uji / Kyoto
- Hiroshima hotel debuts Uji matcha shaved ice Google News — Matcha / Tea Industry
- Kyoto wax-dye art meets tea space PR TIMES — Japanese Tea
- Actress enjoys single-cultivar Uji matcha flight Google News — Uji / Kyoto
- Chinese matcha mislabeled 'Uji' amid global boom Google News — Matcha / Tea Industry
- 800 years of Japanese tea in Yamashiro Google News — Matcha / Tea Industry
- Sushiro x Morihan matcha brûlée cheesecake tasting Google News — Matcha / Tea Industry
- Kyotanabe launches gyokuro sauna experience Google News — Harvest / Competitions / Market
- Zenkyu Matcha expands London partnerships PR TIMES — Matcha
- nana's green tea launches limited Yamamasa Koyamaen matcha Google News — Uji / Kyoto
June 2026
- Nana's green tea launches Uji matcha parfait Google News — Uji / Kyoto
- MAMIDORI matcha madeleine pop-up returns to Osaka PR TIMES — Matcha
- Kyoto matcha sweet souvenir wows fans Google News — Overseas / Boom
- Less than 2% of Uji Matcha actually from Uji Specialty Matcha Podcast
- Gion Tsujiri 'Bububuru' opens at Hankyu Umeda Google News — Harvest / Competitions / Market
- nana's green tea Pasadena draws 2-hour opening waits PR TIMES — Matcha
- Kyoto baumkuchen cafe revamps matcha dessert plates PR TIMES — Matcha
- Japan tea group files GI to fight fakes Asahi Shimbun Digital — Tea / Matcha
- Campanella Tokyo launches Uji matcha confection Google News — Matcha / Tea Industry
- nana's green tea opens Sydney Haymarket cafe PR TIMES — Japanese Tea
- Nana's green tea opens Sydney Haymarket store PR TIMES — Matcha
- Kyo Baum baumkuchen shop opens at Kyoto Station PR TIMES — Matcha
- Ryotan Tea Competition judges gyokuro, tencha quality Google News — Harvest / Competitions / Market
- Ippodo 2026 shincha now available Google News — Harvest / Competitions / Market
- Matcha boom floods Kyoto with tea-picker applicants Google News — Overseas / Boom
- Matcha boom floods Kyoto with tea-picker applicants Google News — Matcha / Tea Industry
- MAMIDORI launches Father's Day matcha sweets set PR TIMES — Matcha
- Uji holds tencha, gyokuro quality competition Kyoto Shimbun — Tea / Uji
- Joyo tencha judged 'generally excellent' this spring Kyoto Shimbun — Tea / Uji
- Gion Tsujiri launches tea-tin gift series PR TIMES — Japanese Tea
- First picking at Japan's northernmost tea field Google News — Uji / Kyoto
- Kochoan cafe relaunches Uji matcha shaved ice PR TIMES — Matcha
- Sushiro x Morihan matcha sweets collab Google News — Matcha / Tea Industry
- Kochouan revives premium matcha pudding by reservation PR TIMES — Matcha
- Fukujuen opens Kansai Airport store, premium series PR TIMES — Matcha
- Itohkyuemon launches Uji matcha hydrangea sweets fair Google News — Uji / Kyoto
- Osaka tea café offers free matcha refills PR TIMES — Matcha
May 2026
- KOTOSHINA releases 2026 shincha Google News — Uji / Kyoto
- Uji matcha tourism guide at historic shops Google News — Uji / Kyoto
- Daimaru Tokyo launches parfait popularity vote PR TIMES — Matcha
- Uji mayor encourages tea pickers Google News — Uji / Kyoto
- Saint-Germain launches Mori-Han Uji matcha latte PR TIMES — Matcha
- Saint-Germain launches Uji matcha latte Google News — Uji / Kyoto
- Lawson launches Morihan Uji matcha smoothie Google News — Uji / Kyoto
- Tasting new tea in Minamiyamashiro Village Google News — Harvest / Competitions / Market
- Tencha first auction hits 10-year price high Google News — Matcha / Tea Industry
- Food truck begins online organic matcha sales Google News — Matcha / Tea Industry
- Ochazuke School Lunch Honors Green Tea Pioneer Google News — Uji / Kyoto
- Gion Tsujiri relaunches matcha castella cake PR TIMES — Matcha
- FamilyMart Debuts Three New Matcha Pastries Google News — 日本茶 / 抹茶 / 茶業
- MATCHAMON matcha latte stand opens at Kanazawa Station PR TIMES — Matcha
- Matcha boom is destroying Japan's tea industry PR TIMES — Japanese Tea
- Sip Authentic Matcha at Historic Uji Teahouse Google News — Uji / Kyoto
- Teapot-free drip Japanese tea debuts in Kyoto PR TIMES — Japanese Tea
- Specialty matcha podcast explores global market dynamics Specialty Matcha Podcast
April 2026
- Myths shape matcha quality perception Specialty Matcha Podcast
- Startup updates on matcha mill and Uji research Specialty Matcha Podcast
March 2026
- Uji-cha GAP inspection sheets posted online Uji Tea (Kyoto Tea Co-op)
December 2025
- Tea farmer studies terroir, plans 2026 projects Tea Nursery
November 2025
August 2025
- Summer harvest surge driven by tencha demand Tea Nursery
July 2025
- Summer tea event at Kyoto's Minamiyamashiro hotel PR TIMES — Uji Tea
May 2025
- Shading begins; harvest countdown underway Tea Nursery
April 2025
- Kyoto shop launches Uji-tea fruit jellies PR TIMES — Uji Tea
January 2024
- Uji frost damage rising with climate shift J-STAGE — Tea Research Report
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