CHASO TOKUNAGA

[Japanese Tea Instructor] is a title granted by the Central Japanese Tea Grower's Consortium to cultural leaders possessed of discernment, technique, and education regarding Japanese Tea, and who are dedicated to promoting the diffusion of said traits. In April 2000, the first generation of 279 (among them 26 women) Tea Instructors was born.

Japanese Tea Instructor01-169 Tokunaga Kayoko

The Nihon Koki, a Japanese historical record, indicates that in the year 815A.D., the priest Eichu presented the Emperor with Tea, showing that Japanese Tea has been consumed in Japan for over 1000 years. Today, Tea continues to be consumed widely as Japan's 'national drink'. Furthermore, from the context of dietary culture, Japanese Tea contributed greatly to Japanese culture and it's development of the Tea Ceremony.

Recently, many foreign and domestic researchers have shown that compounds present in Japanese Tea hold many health benefits. This lends credence to the long history of Tea drinking, and has helped to promote widespread public interest in Japanese Tea.

In the process of working toward the diffusion of knowledge regarding the cultural/healthful aspects of Japanese Tea, as well as promoting the development of Japanese Tea culture, the Central Japanese Tea Grower's Consortium established in the year 2000 the Japanese Tea Instructor certification as a connection point between consumers and Japanese Tea.

The Central Japanese Tea Grower's Consortium is a public-interest corporation established as a central Tea grower's union in 1884 with the goal of promoting the development of a strong Japanese Tea industry, and to provide comprehensive leadership and guidance to that industry.

When the monk Eisai brought tea back from China, he also brought back a chronicle outlining the virtues of tea as a medicine, which he presented to the shogun Sanetomo. The virtues listed in the Chinese document have recently come to be proven scientifically.

Tea compounds and their effects

1.Tea contains lots of Vitamin E which is helpful in preventing aging.

2. Tea catechin helps prevent cancer.

3. Catechin has antimicrobial properties which help prevent food poisoning.

4. Tea contains catechin and vitamin C, both helpful in preventing colds and flu.

5. Catechin lowers your cholesterol.

6. Catechin helps regulate blood sugars.

7. Catechin helps regulate blood pressure.

8. Catechin helps keep allergies in check.

9. Tea contains saponin, which boosts virility, inhibits fat production, strengthens the heart.

10.Tea contains vitamin A, C, and E, making it good for the skin and beauty maintenance.

11. Tea is helpful in dieting because of the fat burning effects of caffeine, as well as the fat breakdown effects of catechin.

12.The caffeine and vitamin C in tea helps replenish glucose in the blood, alleviating hangovers.

13. Caffeine helps alleviate stress and fatigue.

14. Flouride helps prevent cavities and bad breath.

15. Fiber helps promote regularity.

Recommended daily dosage for maximum health benefits:

7 - 10 cups a day (using a large size tea cup).
Eating the tea leaves directly will be even more effective.
Brew the tea relatively strong. The first and second brewings will contain most of the desirable tea compounds. Used tea leaves can be added to foods to get all of the tea's benefit.

Utilizing used tea leaves

If the leaves still have some flavor and color,try using them in your cooking,
-Use with ponzu or dressing in marinated foods.
-Try with natto in place of onions.
-Mix with jakko fish and bonito flakes, add soy sauce and mirin, then use as a topping.
-Mix with tenpura batter and fry up some fish, etc...
-If you put the tea leaves in a tea bag or gauze and add it to the pot when boiling fish, the fishy smell will be removed.
-Using the juice from used tea leaves in the preparation of fish will remove smells and have an antiseptic effect.

Other uses for tea
-Place in the bathtub in a gauze bag to get soft smooth skin.
-Use in cleaning the kitchen for disinfection and elimination of bad smells.
-Sprinkling dried spent tea leaves on the floor before sweeping will give you a shiny floor.
-Place dried spent tea leaves in the corners of the room or the refrigerator to eliminate bad smells.
-Use as plant fertilizer.

1191AD: Eisai, a monk of the Rinzai Sect, returns from his study in China bringing with him tea seeds, which he then plants on Sefuri mountain in Saga. This is said to be the beginning of tea cultivation in Japan.

1440AD: A potter from China crosses over to Japan and settles in the area of Ureshino's Mount Fudo and the Saraya valley. Alongside his pottery production, he also cultivates his own tea, and becomes the first example of tea cultivation in the Ureshino region of Japan. Later in 1504, the first Nanking style kettle is brought over, and the knowledge of what is known today as Kama-iri cha is transmitted to Japan.

Saga Newspapers 2003/05/12