【CRAZY GOOD② (English Ver.)】“Creating an environment for tea and people to grow is everything” -Shota Maehara, Maehara Tea Manufacturing

"Tealabo Channel" is a project that directly visits the makers of 'Chiran-cha', a Kagoshima brand of tea, and delivers their hidden thoughts to young people.

Japanese tea is grown in various regions throughout the country, and each region has its own unique climate, varieties, and growing methods. Coincidentally, “Chiran-cha” exists because of these differences. We wish to share with you the stories of the makers of Chiran tea, which is most notably characterized by its deep green color and sweetness as a result of the temperate climate throughout the year.

For our fifth installment, we spoke with Mr. Shota Maehara of Maehara Tea Manufacturing.

Growing Tea Seedlings on Your Own

"I often stand here and clear my mind while looking out over the fields of tea." He said as he guided us to the sprawling fields spread out around the factory. To Maehara Tea Manufacturing, growing tea seedlings is a prized feature. On clear days, the looming silhouette of volcano, Kaimondake in the distance provides a view that is indescribably breathtaking.

But even if someone asked you to think about tea saplings, does anything really come to mind? We couldn't give a good answer ourselves, until we were graced with an opportunity to see the precious tea in its primary stages.

In the first year after planting, the plants are covered with a black sheet ;　beyond the second year and on, they begin to take identifiable tree shapes reaching about knee-high. Seeing these rare little trees, one can begin to image the painfully long journey of each individual tea plant until it is ultimately ends up in your cup to be consumed as Sencha Tea.

Kagoshima Prefecture is famous for its many varieties of tea compared to other prefectures. Because each tea production site varies in farming methods, and this one starts from the process of farming saplings, they are able to approach tea farming from completely different angles. "It is imperative to convey the varying characteristics and qualities of each tea variety".

Background of Passing the Baton of Succession at a Young Age

Maehara took over the tea business at the age of 25 and is currently entering his 7th year. He chose to return to Kagoshima just as Maehara Tea Manufacturing was initiating a third-party certification (GAP) and was in dire need of human resources.

Nowadays, Shota is most often seen in front of the media, instead of his father, when representing Maehara Tea Manufacturing. When asked why he chooses to face the media at such a young age, Shota answered:

"My father became the successor of the tea business earlier than his predecessor, and he has met and built enduring relationships with so many people. So, he wants me, his son, to be recognized as the face of Maehara Tea Manufacturing. The other reason is simply that my father likes to stay away from the limelight. Haha!"

Maehara laughed and added, "I will cooperate with m y father so that he can do what he wants to do, and I can do what I want to do. We both do what we want to do while taking advantage of our strengths, and making the best of our weaknesses." It became suddenly apparent to us that because of their dynamic, this kind of relationship and division of roles can only exist between the two of them.

In a family business setting, relationships between parents and children can often become complicated, regardless of whether in the tea industry, or not. In this case, the baton is carefully being passed on from father to son while paying respect and giving more to each other than taking. These efforts are noticeable to each other, even if they are never fully expressed in words. Perhaps it is not only the tea production, but also the "Maehara Family Way" that is strongly reflected in this relationship.

Commonalities Between My University Soil Science Research and My Experiences As A Teacher

He spent his high school years in his hometown of Kagoshima, and went on to the prestigious Tokyo University of Agriculture for a secondary education.　Although vague at the time, he knew he wanted to become an educator, which helped him choose his next academic challenge in Tokyo. Following the completion of his degree, he went on to teach in the capital city before ultimately making his mind up to return back home.

His studies concentrated on "Soil Sciences" at Tokyo University of Agriculture to gain a specialized background on his family business and how he could possibly add new perspective. Maehara's senior thesis revolved around composition and condition of soil and used the soil from his parents' farm to complete his education.

Looking back on his time as a teacher, which he experienced for about four years after college, he says, “I now consider it an asset.” He continued to explain that he believes he gained a new perspective on approaching issues due to his experience in the classroom as a teacher.

"Standing at the podium in front of the class, I am able to see each students hand motions very clearly."

In a class consisting of numerous children, there are going to be kids that have a hard time fitting in, or, simply have trouble socializing. In a classroom, students not only learn how to study. but they are sharing a platform that serves as a foundation for their futures and how they will fit into society.

Despite being at the heart of the foundation, he quickly realized that no matter how hard he tried, he struggled with the idea of not being able to make a positive impact on each and every one of his students individually.

"I want to create a place where the child can expand his or her options for life, a place where he or she can see that he or she is not the only one."

"I want to create an environment where my siblings can make tea if they want to, even if it's not me."

Of the many phrases that came up during the interview, we noticed a common denominator Maehara emphasizes the importance of having a "Foundational Platform" more than any other person.

As a tea farmer, Maehara's experience as a teacher is quite rare. Additionally, he is equipped with an education in "Soil Studies" from a prominent institution. Whether regarding "tea", or "people" for that matter, the most basic yet most important factor to growth will always remain the environment. Perhaps it's these ways of thinking that help shape the tea that Maehara produces.

The Rules I Set for Myself, and Being Able to Make Adjustments

The same Maehara that works tirelessly in the fields, finds time to decompress by listening to comedians on the radio while commuting to and from work. He is someone who can enjoy the chaos and unhinged jokes coming from the car speakers; however, despite the grey are of comedy, Maehara's self imposed rules are always black and white.

Personal Rule #1.
Whatever worries I have on that day, I'll deal with them on that day.

Personal Rule #2 
Try not to bring my problems into my home or office.

He says that he would organize his thoughts and worries at work and reflect on them while he was physically active, such as running, strength training, or walking with his dog after work. Sometimes he would run for up to an hour. Haha!

Whether it was the radio during his commute to work or reflecting on his problems while moving his body, his attitude is evident: “I try to solve my problems in my alone time, reset myself, and move on to the next action.“

Maintaining Flexibility Even in The Face of Crisis

 One of the terms often thrown around in the tea industry is "katsuchaku", which is used in seedling cultivation.  It means “a plant that is firmly rooted and continues to grow after being inserted or transplanted. “ This is exactly what Maehara is aiming for. 

That is why we need an environment that provides a foundation for us to change with the times while maintaining a flexible attitude. Currently, Maehara is focused on transitioning the analog components of the company into full digitalization. He is working to keep various records of tea production in numerical form to create a foundation for surviving in the future.

　Mr. Maehara also says that he makes a conscious effort to look at tea from a different perspective, participating as much as possible in events outside the prefecture and events related to tea through tea industry youth associations and other organizations. "We, as producers, have to know the needs of consumers. There are discoveries that we would never have thought of ourselves, so it makes a difference whether we know about them or not." I was impressed by his thoughts and simultaneously moved by his words.

 When asked about the future of tea, he replied, “I hope to create a space where people think it is wonderful to drink tea in a quiet and beautiful setting, like tea and art. I'm still just thinking about it (laughs). "This is another example of how Maehara continues to challenge the beaten path and stress the importance of being flexible.

 Maehara is deep into exploring the future of Maehara Tea Manufacturing with all his philosophies in tact. In what ways will Meahara Tea continue to evolve in the future? For now the sky is the limit, and the expectations are not far below it!

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To purchase Maehara Seicha tea, click here
Maehara Seicha's Instagram

【Profile】
Shota Maehara　
Maehara Tea Manufacturing Co.　

Born in 1989 in Chiran-cho, Minami-Kyushu City. After graduating from Tokyo University of Agriculture, where he majored in soil science, he worked as a teacher in Tokyo before making a U-turn and joining the family business, Maehara Tea Manufacturing Co. He cultivates seedlings and manufactures rough tea at the company.

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