A 1-kilogram batch of hand-rolled new Japanese tea leaves from Shizuoka Prefecture sold for a record ¥1.96 million ($15,500) at the season's inaugural auction on Monday.
The green tea leaves were grown in Fujinomiya, and sold at the Shizuoka Japanese Tea Market's annual auction to ring in the latest crop. Shizuoka Prefecture is renowned in Japan for its green tea. The market officials said that although this year's tea grew more slowly than usual, its quality remains good.
Speaking at a ceremony, the market's president, Yasuhide Uchino, said that despite continually rising fuel and raw materials prices, the market "is working hard to ensure it provides delicious tea at fair prices."
The bell heralding the start of transactions rang at 7 a.m., and agricultural workers, tea traders and others could be seen negotiating prices with Japanese soroban abacuses. Applause echoed as deals were struck.
"We were able to acquire tea of good color and shape," said a satisfied Natsuki Wada, 35, a processed-tea wholesaler based in the city of Shizuoka.
Trading was also done for teas grown outside Shizuoka Prefecture, including from Kagoshima Prefecture and Okinawa Prefecture. Late April is expected to be the peak for tea hand-rolling work.
The Shizuoka Japanese Tea Market reported that as of 8:10 a.m., the trading volume of Shizuoka-grown green tea was 1,732 kg, with an average per-kilogram price of ¥5,027.
