As the song “Tea Plucking” says, May 2nd, the 88th day after Risshun, is the 88th night of the year. This is the day when spring turns to summer. In 1990, the Japan Tea Growers’ Association (JTA) designated this day as “Green Tea Day” because tea picking is at its peak at this time. As you can see, May is a very busy month for those involved in tea production. Of course, Yamashita Shinjuen also has a busy season. The stress is so great that the owner of the garden, Shinki, has a rough skin almost every year. We asked him if there was anything he could do to relieve his stress at this time of year when he can’t even take a holiday.
As the song “Tea Plucking” says, May 2nd, the 88th day after Risshun, is the 88th night of the year. This is the day when spring turns to summer. In 1990, the Japan Tea Growers’ Association (JTA) designated this day as “Green Tea Day” because tea picking is at its peak at this time. As you can see, May is a very busy month for those involved in tea production. Of course, Yamashita Shinjuen also has a busy season. The stress is so great that the owner of the garden, Shinki, has a rough skin almost every year. We asked him if there was anything he could do to relieve his stress at this time of year when he can’t even take a holiday.
I was told that on the night of the full moon in May, there is also coral spawning. Countless eggs dance like powdery snow in the sea. Coral has light sensors in its body and can detect moonlight. The brightest moonlight triggers them to start spawning, as if they are timing it right.
At this time of the year in May there can be late frosts and for Yamashita Shinjuen the work of finishing the tea to produce the best Gyokuro in Japan continues. There is no time to relax. That’s why, on a full moon night, we go night fishing for just one day to refresh ourselves. No matter how tired I am, the night fishing under the full moon helps me to recover. And the next day, I’m back to making the best Gyokuro I can.
The current owner, Shinki, has won the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries award three times, but this might not have been possible without the night fishing in May. Fishing seems to have nothing to do with tea making, but it supports the production of gyokuro, which makes a superb cup of tea.
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7 Fugenji Kugedani, Kyotanabe, Kyoto
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