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New Japanese tea leaves fetch record Y1.09 mil at auction

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"There were a total of 9 prefectures near Fukushima prefecture where high levels of radiation had been detected. These included Chiba, Fukushima, Gunma, Ibaraki, Kanagawa, Shizuoka, Tochigi, and Tokyo." 2016. i drink very delicious tea from kagoshima.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Tea leaves? Radiation? Mangoes is there nothing Japnese won't spend an exorbitant amount on.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

The Japanese market continues to baffle me...

From cows, fish, fruits to now tea... the so called auction.., now appear to be no more than a stage to "raise" the prices of those products... an artificial "value" and price...

It does not appear to be giving any meaningful "value" to those items in comparison to the rest of the products available in the market...

Other than the "wow" factor.., and the "pride" of the buyer and the producer.., and the agricultural technology, method and technique of the producer...

I give the producer the credit and the honor and the blessing for the new tea... may it help to develop even better tea...

But sadly, I guess I could not afford to enjoy that tea for some time till the prices come down...

5 ( +7 / -2 )

Dear's he...he...he....costly Tea.,

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Tea is getting very pricey in Japan, as evidence here shows.But once you have tasted the pure Shizuoka tea,nothing will compare. It is, they say, the "Champagne of World Tea's", popular all around the world, and well worth the huge price.Nothing like anything you will taste from India, or China.

-9 ( +1 / -10 )

The Japanese market continues to baffle me...From cows, fish, fruits to now tea... the so called auction..

It is not just an auction but First Auction or "Hatsuseri" (初競り) just like a New Year Day is not just another day in Japan. It happens only once a year. It is more than a commercial activity but a ritual to cerebrate a new beginning in which people wish for a good year. The price they pay in Hatsuseri is considered "Goshugi" (ご祝儀), or a Donation. And the product they buy is considered "Engimono" (縁起物), or a Good Luck Item.

It is partially a Shitoistic ritual for the first day of the particular market.

It also has a pure commercial value - an advertisement for the market as well as for the victorious buyer. The company, who buys with highest price, gets its name (and face) appear on news. You might compare it with crazy Super Bowl ads in US ($5 million for 30 seconds).

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Not only in Japan. USA. Drinking green tea is fashionable in USA.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Shizuoka tea is the Rolex of teas. People who know little about tea thinks it's the best, because so much is produced and so many people know about it. Many superior teas are produced in smaller amounts especially in Kyushu (Yame, Kagoshima...).

But just as well Shizuoka gets all the publicity. It helps keep the prices down on the better teas elsewhere.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

A 1-kilogram quantity of hand-rolled new Japanese tea leaves 

What are people smoking "hand-rolled" tea now, like a Cuban cigar?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I think a far more people watch and remember Superbowl ads than auctions for agricultural products in Japan which have just happened twice in about a week. Maybe that is not a valid comparison.

I would be much more accepting of Japanese growers trying to brand high-end produce if that is all it was. As things stand, Japanese people spend a much higher % of their disposable income on food than in other advanced countries. The system as a whole fails to provide food that is as affordable as equivalent countries overseas. The inevitable result of this is people eating less veg than the traditional Japanese diet. Veg consumption is down about 20% during Heisei and older people (who are richer) eat 30% more than the young. Glorifying farmers producing the bestest ever melon as the media does is not the solution to this.

http://www.5aday.net/fact/p2/index.html

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I think a far more people watch and remember Superbowl ads than auctions for agricultural products in Japan which have just happened twice in about a week. Maybe that is not a valid comparison.

Not in Japan......

As things stand, Japanese people spend a much higher % of their disposable income on food than in other advanced countries.

Buy food is not part of "disposable income"really, it's a necessity. However Japanese DO pay far too much for grocery items.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The same prefecture that exported to France and had the tea rejected due to radioactivity?

Actually, thebest green tea that I’ve ever had came from Northern Thailand....

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

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