Japanese green tea, known for its health benefits and centuries-old brewing and serving rituals, has won the hearts and taste buds of people around the world.
But with the dramatic aging of its society, Japan is seeing a fall in its tea farmer population that is putting the industry's survival at risk.
Enter Suil Hong, a 31-year-old third-generation Korean resident and founder of Tokyo-based marketing company Rebirth. Hong has made it his mission to support small Japanese tea farmers and help them reach markets in and outside the country to preserve the tradition of ocha and spread it around the world.