Do you know Black tea in Japan is 99% imported. Domestic produced black tea is under 1%. But fortunately here in Toyama, black tea leaf is produced, although the amount is a little 😊.
Toyama has 2 tea leaf farms, one is in Asahi-machi, the other is on Kureha hill.
I was very impressed when I drank it for the first time. Luckily, I could get to know the head of “Toyama Tea Society”, Ms. Kadoshima, and I asked her whether we could experience tea leaf picking as our group activity.
She offered us this workshop held in Asahimachi, which is held every summer once a year there.
In this workshop, we learnt and watched the process from the 1st step (picking raw tea leaf from the farm), to the final step ( we enjoyed tasting the completed black tea)!! It was really amazing time!!
1: Picking tea leaf
2. Remove moisture from the leaves
3. Oxidation, Fermentation
4. Drying
5. Tasting
We spent a lovely day with “Before I Die wall” on May 21 as a part of event “Earth Day Toyama 2017”. Many men and women of all ages came to our booth, though it was really hot like summer.
Have you ever heard “Before I Die wall”?
This is a worldwide public art project created by an artist, Ms. Candy Chang to give us opportunities to think of fulfilling our lives, dreams and hopes, what’s more, to share them with others using this chalkboard. Everyone walking by the board can add a line following “Before I die, I want to…”
“Two of the most valuable things we have are time, and our relationships with other people. In our age of increasing distractions, it’s more important than ever to find ways to maintain perspective, and remember that life is brief and tender. Death is something that we’re often discouraged to talk about, or even think about, but I’ve realized that preparing for death is one of the most empowering things you can do. Thinking about death clarifies your life.”
We believe it has made such a big impression on people all over the world including us.
Our board got a lot of people’s responses as well and some shared their stories with us. They were full of hopes and dreams, sometimes sounded hard to make them come true, but sharing these things with others could give us hints or chances to accomplish their dreams. As Ms. Chang says, it tells we’re not alone, and we also felt our public spaces can be so powerful if we’re given the opportunity to have a voice, and share more with one another.
Our wall appeared on the official site. Please see the details.
Oharasan is the 16th successor of Johana Maki-e (*Maki-e means Japanese traditional lacquerware decorative techniques ), which is succeeded from a father to his son.He is amazing artist and designer. He is also the repairer of the Johana festival floats. He can perform Johana traditional Mugiya dance, Iori uta song, traditional Japanese flute, he is absolutely special and precious .
We visited Oharasan today. Thanks to Oharasan’s , his Mugiya dance group members’ and the museum chief’s and the staffs’ courtesy , special seats were prepared for us !!!!! The Oharasan’s mugiya dance group performed the Mugiya traditional dance and some other dances on the special stage in the Johana festival float museum because of today’s heavy rain. That was really surprise present for us !!
After the performance, Oharasan showed us the Johana festival float museum exhibition and explained details for over an hour !!!!!!!!! We could also appreciate his singing and performance of the Japanese flute.That was absolutely cultural time and experience. Thank you so much again Oharasan , you are always nice and kind !!!
Nisa san and her husband Ahmad san gave us the Indonesian traditional fermentation food “Tempe” cooking workshop just before they leave here.
Congratulations Nisa San again , u completed ur mission here to get Ph.D.in the farmacutical faculty!!.U did great job!!! Well done !
We will surely miss u both and ur Tempe.
We really appreciate ur heartwarming friendship.
Ken Ohki sensei took these following photos !!!!
He is really amazing nice guy !!!!! Not to mention his many talents !!!
We definitely enjoyed this photo workshop and potluck lunch time with Ken sensei ! I had never imagined that parents with small children could enjoy photo workshop like this.
Ken sensei taught us many things !!! Even precious secrets of his digital photo art !!!! We really appreciate Ken sensei for playing with children ,and for these great photos !!
We enjoyed casual tea ceremony outdoors (Nodate) at Uchiyama-tei, and picnic at Kansui Park. Monikasan’s very tasty vegetable lasagne, Ahamd san’s Indonesian Yakitori , and Nisasan’s Indonesian egg pie!!! Every dish was absolutely great! Beautiful clear blue sky, lovely pink Ume blossoms, affectionate friends , their delicious dishes !! We could not wish for anything more than these.
Sorry, I didn’t take any pictures other than the following ones.
