Tea for Peace in Shibuya farmers market

On November 1st 2023, PB and I went to Tea for Peace in Shibuya.

At UNU towards the back of the weekly farmer’s market, was a showcase of dozens of passionate tea makers from across Japan, China, Taiwan and Korea. Each tea producer was friendly and eager to tell the story of their teas and share a cup with you.

Black, red, brown, yellow and green teas of various aromatic scents and delicate tastes were all on display.

You could purchase a small tasting cup for ¥1,200 or the larger gaiwan (a Taiwanese teacup with lid for ¥2,500). This meant you could go around for hours trying out different varieties and hearing the stories of tea experts. There was some tatami mats in the centre of the market where you could relax and enjoy your tea.

I don’t really know much about tea at all, although I am a passionate lover of tea and cherish the ritual of catching up with friends and family over tea.

The ritual of making and enjoying tea is good for cleansing away worries and sorrows. The enlivening and invigorating experience of drinking tea tends to create joy and excitement in conversations.

During times of trouble, tea can be like a salve on a wound, comforting people when there is a burden and hurt that needs to be shared.

Our opportunity to be in Tokyo and sample many teas from all over Asia was incredibly exciting for me and PB.

He is also a long-term lover of strong sencha, matcha and other varieties. He finds it very good for long periods of intense concentration at the computer.

These market sellers were very excited to discuss the various flowers and herbs and the process of production with us.

In the end we got a very mild sencha (strong green teas give me a migraine, not sure why).

Along with the mild sencha, we got a very Japanese tea made from Hinoki, a native Japanese tree of the Cypress family that is known for its beautiful aroma.

At this farmer’s market was bric-a-brac from all over the world, including Slavic children’s books album covers and old ads from NME magazine of David Bowie, the Who, Rolling Stones, Oasis etc.

After this, we braved the iconic Shibuya scramble crossing. This is when we discovered that it was also Hachiko the famous Akita inu’s 100th birthday, which I have also written about.

On our holiday, I spent several days seeking out teaware that was the “real deal” hand-made and beautiful tea pots and cups that I would be able to use every single day and enjoy for the rest of my life.

There are a lot of mass produced mugs and teaware that you can get, but I wanted something more special and unique that really speaks to my heart.

Eventually, two days before leaving I found them. A gigantic coffee cup in a deep blue glaze with silver triangles jutting out of the blue beyond.

To me this appears like Mt Fuji along with the surrounding mountain ranges in Hakone, peaking out of wintery mist in the early morning. It gives me a shiver and a touch of the sublime each time I look at it and hold it. I got a matching tea pot and smaller mug in the same series and all are little treasures in which to enjoy my tea ceremony even more.

I found a relatively inexpensive sake set which looks like a pink sunrise or sunset in another shop and a deep blue sake bottle with thumb indents for comfortable pouring as well.

I can’t say why I love handmade pottery so much, but the show ‘The Great Pottery Throwdown’ might have something to do with it…their passion for the pottery is infectious. My plan for retirement (if I ever do retire it would be a good 30 years from now) is to get a kiln and start making and selling unique artisan pottery.

Anyway here below is my handmade pottery haul from Japan. I use these every day and don’t think I will ever get tired of them. Do you own things that you use everyday and love them all the more for it?