The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (so-called MAFF) will hold a seminar entitled “Organic Tea Power-Up Meeting” to enhance the domestic production of organic tea on 26th January, according to the press release of MAFF.
I think the seminar will provide us with an opportunity to communicate with tea farmers and tea merchants who are interested in organic tea in Japan. In the program, there seems to be a communication session with tasting organic teas made by participants.

As posted previously, innovations accelerating organic tea production are demanded. I hope tea farmers and tea merchants could communicate and cooperate with business persons related not only tea industry but also other industries such as robotics and machinery manufacture to enhance organic tea production.

It is a great pleasure for me that such related or possibly related companies which have branches in Japan could join the meeting and discuss with business persons in Japanese tea industries, including manufacture companies of tea industry like Kawasaki Kiko co., ltd., Ochiai Cutlery Manufacturing co., ltd., Terada Seisakusho co., ltd., and Matsumotokiko co., ltd.

< Application form to join the meeting >
https://www.contactus.maff.go.jp/j/form/seisan/tokusan/180126_opum.html
*note : Descriptions on the form are written by only Japanese.

< Details of the Seminar >

• Date : 13:30 – 17:00, 26th January
• Venue : Seminar hall on 7th floor in the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
• Access : Please get off at “Kasumigaseki” station on Tokyo Metro Marunouchi line. The exit of A6 is the nearest to the entrance of MAFF. If you come though Shinjuku station, please exchange to the Marunouchi line bound to Ikebukuro in Shinjuku station. If you come through Tokyo station, please exchange to the Marunouchi line bound to Ogikubo in Tokyo station.
• Program is as follow.

1. Current outlook of domestic production of organic tea in Japan – by MAFF
2. The worldwide demand for Japanese tea and test production for export
   – by The Association for Promotion of Japanese Tea Export.
3. Case Studies of Organic Tea Production in Japan.
   – by two tea farmers practicing organic tea farming.
4. Trend and Demand for Organic Tea in Domestic/Worldwide Markets
   – by two tea merchants export organic Japanese teas worldwide.
5. Discussion among participants
   * With tasting and mutual evaluation of each tea products will be performed.
6. Possible Technologies applied for organic tea production.
   Speaker1) National Agricultural Research Organization
   Speaker2) Tea-related machinery companies.