Kawanecha Day

What Is Kawanecha Day?

April 21st is "Kawanecha Day" in Japan. It was established by the Kawanecha Tea Road Promotion Council, formed by Kawanecha growers and others, to help more people discover the appeal of "Kawanecha," a renowned tea from Shizuoka Prefecture, and it is certified and registered by the Japan Anniversary Association. The day is positioned as the start of the new tea season, a time to appreciate the history and culture of Kawanecha, known for its rich aroma and well-balanced sweetness and astringency.

Why April 21st?

The date reflects the timing just ahead of the new tea season.

• Its connection to "77 nights": April 21 often falls on the 77th night counted from Risshun (the start of spring), 11 days before the 88th night (Hachijū-hachiya), a well-known marker for tea picking
• Just before the new tea season: this timing falls right before new tea picking begins in earnest, aiming to build excitement for the region as a tea-producing area
• The organization behind it: the Kawanecha Tea Road Promotion Council, which aims to improve the quality of Kawanecha and build a thriving community centered on it

How the 77th Night Is Counted

In a year when Risshun falls on February 4, counting that day as day one makes April 21 exactly the 77th day. In years when Risshun falls on February 3, everything shifts a day earlier and the 77th night is April 20. The 88th night comes 11 days later, around May 2, and is the traditional marker for tea picking sung about in the school song "Chatsumi" (Tea Picking).

A Well-Known Name Among Shizuoka Teas

Kawanecha is tea produced in the Kawane region (Kawanehon Town and the Kawane area of Shimada City) along the Oi River in Shizuoka Prefecture. Japan's "three great teas" are usually listed as Shizuoka tea, Uji tea (Kyoto) and Sayama tea (Saitama), and Kawanecha is one of the best-known brands within Shizuoka tea. It is known for its rich aroma and well-balanced sweetness and astringency.

Kawanecha Trivia

• Where it grows: the Oi River basin, whose waters come from the Southern Alps, is a mountainous area with large differences between day and night temperatures and frequent morning mist. This environment and the efforts of local farmers are said to have made the tea famous
• Tea fields on both banks: Kawanehon Town, with tea fields spreading along both sides of the Oi River, is the home of Kawanecha and has won production-area awards at national tea competitions
• Trains and tea fields: the Oigawa Railway Ikawa Line, Japan's only Abt rack railway, runs through Kawanehon Town, and views of trains passing tea fields are popular with visitors
• A tea-picking song: the Sayama tea region has a picking song that goes "for color, Shizuoka; for aroma, Uji; but for taste, Sayama is the best," a handy clue to which teas make up the "big three"

Tips for Marking This Day

• Brew a cup of Kawanecha and try it for yourself
• Compare the taste of Kawanecha with Uji tea and Sayama tea
• Learn about the history and climate of tea cultivation in Shizuoka's Kawane region
• Check for information about tea as the new tea season approaches

A Cup of Pride From a Mountain Tea Region, Just Before the New Tea Season

Kawanecha is a fragrant, deeply flavorful tea nurtured by the mountain climate of Shizuoka Prefecture. Let April 21st be a chance to savor a cup of pride from the Kawane tea region, just before the new tea season arrives.