Our Philosophy

Why Organic Farming

We are a cooperative of organic tea farmers in Fujieda, Shizuoka, Japan. Everything we grow is produced without pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, or chemical fertilizers — and has been since 1976.

"A good farmer knows that to produce good crops, one must first develop good soil. Thus, the taste of good organic tea is made half of tea leaves and half of the hearts of their farmers."

— Toshiaki Kinezuka, founder

The Field as Habitat

The balance between people, agriculture, and nature is a delicate one. But with appropriate stewardship, the environment takes good care of itself.

In our fields, predatory insects — spiders, grasshoppers, praying mantises — keep pests in check. Their presence attracts birds and reptiles, improving local biodiversity. Below the surface, mycorrhizal fungi flourish in the soil, strengthening the tea trees against disease while cycling nutrients back into the ground. The field becomes a habitat largely capable of sustaining itself.

It is up to the farmer to maintain and protect the integrity of this habitat. This is not a new idea. It is the way farming was practiced for millennia, long before industrially produced fertilizers and chemicals entered the picture. It is a return to the roots of agriculture — and it is the foundation of everything we do.

A Community of Farmers

In 1976, Toshiaki Kinezuka began farming without chemicals at a time when the word "organic" did not yet exist in Japanese agriculture. What started as one family's conviction has grown into a cooperative of partner farms in the mountains above Fujieda, all committed to the same principles.

Together, we research and refine organic farming techniques, share resources, and work to produce an environment where the highest quality tea can grow through traditional methods. Rather than competing to produce the most tea with the least labor, we have chosen to invest in soil, biodiversity, and the long-term health of the land.

What "Organic" Means to Us

Organic agriculture has become a massive industry since we began in 1976. In a world of deceptive labeling and innumerable certifications, the meaning of "organic" can feel diluted. So we want to be explicit about what it means to us.

We use absolutely no pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, or chemical fertilizers — not anywhere in our operation, not even those permitted by certifying agencies. When we remove weeds, we do so by hand: uprooting or cutting only those that would hinder our work, and leaving the rest to decompose and return their nutrients to the soil.

Our fertilizer comes from the land itself. After harvesting and threshing rice, we carry the bundled stalks back up to the tea fields and lay them between the rows to decompose over winter — maintaining moisture and creating the conditions for healthy spring growth. We produce further mulch from horse manure, garden and kitchen waste, and spoiled hay. Together, these form a potent source of nutrients that helps the soil and the tea trees flourish, without ever introducing substances that interrupt the natural cycles of the surrounding plants, animals, and fungi.

To us, organic agriculture means our cooperation with all of the life that surrounds us — giving to it as it gives back to us.

Support our work by purchasing our tea, booking a farm tour, or staying at our guesthouse.