NEWS

On Friday, July 11, 2025, Mr. Fumikazu Makino, a tea producer and operator of the rural guesthouse Yamaga Bunko in Kitsuki City, was invited as a guest speaker for the “LOP (Local Products Producer) Talks” lecture hosted by the Center for Language Education (CLE). LOP Talks is a program designed for students in upper-intermediate Japanese language classes. Held once each semester since the 2023 academic year, it invites producers of local specialty products as guest speakers, with the aim of helping students learn about Oita Prefecture’s regional communities and local industries and specialty products in Japanese, and connect that knowledge with their own areas of expertise.

Mr. Makino originally worked in Tokyo as a performing artist, but his growing interest in agriculture led him to move to Oita Prefecture in 2014 as a member of the Community Revitalization Cooperation Program. During his time on the program, he became involved in Kitsuki City’s tea industry. Captivated by the flavor and richness of local tea, he now collaborates with tea farmers to produce and sell tea while running his farm stay, Yamaga Bunko.

In his talk, Mr. Makino explained the current challenges facing the tea industry, particularly the aging population of tea farmers and the physically demanding nature of tea cultivation, which raises concerns about future sustainability. He also noted that while individual consumption of tea leaves is decreasing, the consumption of bottled tea beverages is on the rise. Although the total amount of tea consumed remains stable, Mr. Makino pointed out that the gradual disappearance of scenes where people gather to drink freshly brewed tea from a teapot marks a significant cultural shift.

Toward the end of the lecture, several international students shared stories of tea cultures from their home countries, including Sri Lanka, India, and Bangladesh. Mr. Makino was impressed by the similarities to Japan, particularly the custom of people of all ages gathering over tea to engage in discussions, even on topics like politics. The session also featured a tasting of Kitsuki green tea, served by Professor Wakana Watanabe. Students enjoyed the rich flavor of tea prepared using traditional teapots.