Rewilding Japanese Green Tea Field

[renequinquito]

centuries old tradition of sustainable living in Japan, lost to just a memory of life . . .

[kalara75]

Thank you for posting these videos enchanting videos of Japan. I have been very interested in seeing the Japanese countryside since I discovered Mr. Hayao Miyazaki movies several years ago. Your videos give me that same feeling of soulful, natural splendor I feel when watching them. Thanks please keep them coming. I keep wanting to tell you keep your eyes out for Totoro when you on your journeys. Especially if its raining! :)

[marblemill]

thats a pretty large piece of land there. Even though its sad to think no one wants that kind of life anymore, I'm Glad to see it return to forest rather than some construction on it. Do you know if the tea plants have a best age range for production? Can they be too old for good tea?

[softypapa]

@marblemill The land here is very nice and I agree that it's rather pleasant to see it going back to nature rather than being paved over. I'm not sure what the best age is for green tea plant production. Thanks for watching! -Kurt :-)

[shaada100]

I started drinking green tea quite a few months ago but it is only a cheap box from the supermarket, and teabags. Can you reccommend any particular varieties of green tea? Thanks! -Adam

[softypapa]

Hello Adam, I too enjoy Japanese green tea though I am not too familar with the different types. The two varieties I know and like best are sencha and genmaicha. Sencha is probably one of the most common and popular types of tea in Japan and is a good selection in most cases. Genmaicha includes other ingredients which make a very nice and subtle flavor. Therea re many other types though these are the two I like most. I hope that this helps. -Kurt :-)

[shaada100]

Thankyou Kurt! I only wished you Merry Christmas on a previous post; Happy New Year also! -Adam

[pandanus1]

Could another reason for abandonment be to let the soil repair its structure? so that they dont overfarm that particular spot? nice video, thanks for posting

[softypapa]

Hello pandanus1, You make a good point which may be true in some cases though I do not know enough about tea farming to offer an answer. One fact is very clear out in the mountains and that is that there are very few young Japanese who are interested in this lifestyle, and as the old folks depart there is often nobody left to take over. -Kurt

[MadamTango]

Your videos are wonderful: thank you for posting them. I admire your appreciation for one of life's beauty: green tea.

It is my dream to visit green tea plantation one day.

[qrintokyo]

Kurt, good video...any suggestions on how I could buy a tea farm. Also, is it a matter of people not wanting to tend to tea farms, or is it just not profitable?

[softypapa]

Hello grintokyo, I'm not sure of the steps you would need to take to buy a farm though there are certainly foreigners in Japan who are doing this. Check out the discussions on the "Countryside Living" forum at the Gaijinpot website to hear the first hand accounts of folks who have done this. Profit is a problem for farmers in Japan though many young people are simply not attracted to this type of life and would rather live in the city. Thanks for commenting. I hope that this helps. -Kurt

[H8LLCAT1]

great video. it is horrible to see that happen especially since I love high quality handpicked loose leaf tea. the worst part is im only 16 so by time im an old man the price is going to be insane or im not going to be able to even get it any more.

[Peekingduck]

Great clip.

It is sad that so much of what we 'gajin' think of as 'traditional Japan' is fading away. Though I must admit that I thought green-tea, with all its health aspects, would be one thing that would last for a while. Maybe it's a matter of stamping the bags with the word 'organic' ?

Thanks for the clip

[softypapa]

Hello Peekingduck, Thank you for writing. Part of the problem as you may know is that few young Japanese desire to live way out in the countryside so far removed from the the hustle, bustle and income potential of city life. Perhaps the Japanese should open the countryside up to foreigners who would love to come to live and farm in such a beautiful part of the world. I'd sign up! -Kurt :-)

[Peekingduck]

Sounds like a good life to me.

Growing tea and spending time in nature...

Beats the stress of Tokyo most days.

Really like the pase of your videos Discovery cannel

could learn a few things from you : D

Be well

[rmesjim]

It is so sad to see the tea fields being abandoned. I thought farming green tea would not make you reach, but at least will give enough for a modest living.

great video as usual.

[softypapa]

Hi remesjim, Thanks for watching and commenting. I agree with your sentiments. It's interesting to note that if you go further back into the woods behind these fields there are much older stone terraces that were abandoned decades or centuries before. It looks like this process has been going on for awhile in one form or another. -Kurt

[davevegas03]

How did Kat miss this one LOL im first. I know its no big deal just want u to know that I am a big fan of your work. Your videos make me sick for Japan. Great work as usual

[softypapa]

Thanks for watching and commenting. I really appreciate your feedback and am encouraged to charge up the batteries on the camera and get back out there. Thanks again!