CURRENT STORY
AKIHIRO KITA
Obubu Tea Farms
Wazuka, Japan
In our first story, we want to share the incredible journey of Akihiro Kita and his Obubu Tea Farms. It is a story of passion, risk, and pure love for the land and its leaves.
A story into the world of tea and a farm we experienced ourselves.
WHO IS AKKY-SAN?
Akihiro Kita, "Akky" in short, is a knowledgeable, brave, and fun heart tea producer. Rain or shine, you will find him fully engaged in the daily routines of the farm.
His journey started with a humble college part-time job that turned into a calling, leading him to dedicate his life to the art of tea. Little did Akky-san know that this choice would one day bring Japanese tea to fans all over the world.
It was exactly while working part-time on the tea farm that he tasted a cup of Ujicha, green tea from the Uji region near Kyoto. In that moment, he discovered his lifelong passion for green tea.
Under the guidance of master tea farmers, Akky-san then spent fifteen years mastering the delicate art of cultivating the finest tea leaves. In 2004, after years of dedication, he was able to realise his dream by buying, building, and running his own tea farms: Obubu.
THE TEA ENERGY
Fun fact about Akky-san: He loves to share his insights, including how water 'feels more alive' after being boiled - a simple yet deep reflection of his profound respect for the tea. At the same time this is also what sets him apart: a unique funny character. And if words alone cannot convince you, the video below, capturing his energetic spirit in action, will.
THE WORLD OF OBUBU
Celebrated for producing what many consider the finest matcha in the world, Obubu is more than just a tea farm. Obubu, which is a funny way to refer to tea in Kyoto's dialect, invites you to dive right into the beauty and artistry of Japanese tea culture.
The tea plantation is nestled in the rolling hills of Wazuka, a small town in Kyoto's regions. Wazuka itself has over 800 years of tea-growing tradition, and Obubu is dedicated to bringing that history and care from the field to your cup, making you aware of and amazed by the legacy each leaf carries on its journey to your hands.
What truly sets this farm apart is its community-first mindset. By working closely with local charities and genuinely investing in the community and in the people around them, Obubu feels more like a family than a business. Their commitment to education is equally inspiring: through tea clubs and internships, they share their knowledge and passion for tea with everyone who comes by. Whether you are learning about the details of tea cultivation or simply savouring a cup of matcha, you can feel how Obubu is dedicated to breathing new life into the tea industry in Wazuka and beyond.
HOW WE MET OBUBU
It was our fourth time visiting Japan, and we’d always been curious about what tea fields really looked like. So, we decided to spend a full day at Obubu Tea Farms.
The journey there was a bit of an adventure in itself: a train, then another train, a bus, and finally a quick walk through a little Japanese forest. And then, there it was: a tiny Japanese-style house, a factory adorned with a quirky painting, and endless green tea fields stretching out around us. At that moment, we knew the effort had been worth it.
But what really caught our attention was the warmth and energy of the people we met right from the start. There was such a clear passion for tea and community that instantly we knew we’d found something special. We were lucky to be greeted by Akky-san and later met Hirokazu Matsumoto, or Hiro for short, the event and factory manager. We spent the entire day with him in the fields, where he shared not only his deep knowledge of tea production and harvesting but also his own inspiring story. He started working in tea fields at just nineteen and joined Obubu early on. His energy and dedication mirrored Akky-san’s, shining and smiling through in every task.
As we walked the tea hills, sipped tea, and rode across the farm in Obubu’s tiny Toyota cargo truck, it felt like we had joined a big family devoted to sharing the joy of tea. With every sip, it became clearer and clearer that this was not just about tea and tea fields anymore; it was a celebration of culture, community, and connection — and we wanted to be a part of it.
Images & Videos on this website are kindly provided by Obubu Tea Farms.