A Happy New Year

The tea for A New Year

We begin to sale some special tea leaf now.
They are a special tea for a new year.
One of them is called "Oofuku-cha". And another one is called "Onenga-cha".
Oofuku-cha means many happiness. And Onennga-cha means a new year tea.
Both of them mean that we wish you many more years of happiness.

Kobe Luminarie

You know, our green tea store is in Kobe, Japan.
And there is a light festival held in Kobe, Japan every December.
It began in 1995 and commemorates the Great Hanshin earthquake of that year. They were donated by the Italian Government. The lights are kept up for about two weeks and only turned on for a few hours each evening. Each light is individually hand-painted. Major streets in the vicinity are closed to auto traffic during these hours to allow pedestrians to fill the streets and enjoy the lights.

Oriental zodiac

The origin of the 12 signs of the animal zodiac can be traced back some 3,500 years.
The signs are believed to have been introduced to Japan in the 6th century.
Each of the zodiac animals have its own distinct characteristics, which people born in that year are said to share.
This year is the Year of the Mouse.
And 2009 is the Year of the Ox.
"What are the traits of an ox?"
"Stubborn, Hard-working, and I guess persistent."

What's your Oriental zodiac sign?

Year-end cleaning

In Japan, people have a tradition of doing a general house cleaning at the end of year.
Called susuharai, the tradition originates from a religious custom in which people cleaned their household altar and rooms to welcome the god of the New Year.
They believed they could drive away the ill luck of the year together with the dust in the house.
Although many families do it in late December, we have to do it early December.
Because you know we must open our green tea shop in late December. We are busy in this season.
So today, we did it!
But, not yet...
I finished cleaning half of the house.
Every time I straighten things up, my family make a mess again. It never ends!

Seibo (Winter gift)

Seibo are presents we gratefully give to people who have helped us.
We send Seibo from the beginning of December until around December 20th.
In the past, we sent things like rice, mochi, and fish.
But, nowadays, generally food, Japanese green tea and daily necessities are given.
This custom began with offerings to the year god from the end of the year until the New Year.

Labor Thanksgiving Day

Labor Thanksgiving Day(Kinro kansha no hi) is a national holiday in Japan.
It takes place annually on November 23. The law establishing the holiday cites it as an occasion for commemorating labor and production and giving one another thanks.
It is one of holiday for many people in Japan.
But we have to work today. Because we are staffs of green tea store. So our store never close on Sunday or some national holiday.
But it is OK. We look forward to working with customers and hope that we can be of further service.
This is really Labor Thanksgiving Day!!

Scrabble

I didn't like a board game when I was a child.
But my brother liked it very much.
So I lost a game every time when we played.

Some time ago, I played Scrabble.
It was a first time for me.
It's too difficult!
And of course, I lost a game...

But I think I will enjoy a game over a cup of tea next time...

Autumnal colors of the leaves

The foliage season has arrived again.
I love this season!
Many Japanese people enjoy the changing colors of autumn leaves.
And also, we would like to drink a hot tea in this season.
I recommend you sencha with some sweets.

History of green tea

Green tea was brought from China and has been extensively cultivated in Japan. Although it is now one of the most popular beverages in Japan, it was once so precious that only a select few, such as monks and nobility could afford its pleasures.
Thanks to the efforts of Eisai, a twelfth century Zen monk, green tea was introduced to the public, and samurai warriors and common people began to enjoy the new drink. Chinese people have long known of the health benefits of green tea and used it medicinally. When Eisai was introducing the effect of drinking green tea, he professed, “A medicine is for one disease only, but green tea is a kind of panacea that can prevent and treat all sorts of ailments.”
Subsequently, green tea has taken root in Japanese society as a specialty item. Recently, it has once again attracted a lot of attention as a health-promoting beverage, with many benefits. We hope you enjoy drinking green tea to your heart’s content.

Japanese green tea

Green tea has been attracting wolrdwide attention in recent years, as it's
health benefits have become better known.



And of course, we always drink Japanese green tea.



But many people drink the pet bottle of green tea recently in Japan.

I think it is not good for your health and earth's environment.

Japanese Matcha Green Tea Store Ochadokoro Sanwa Blog

Get a chance!

We will offer a free gift Japanese tea pot to the customer finished to order and pay more than 10,000JPY. (from 1 Nov. 2008 to 30 Nov.2008 ).

Please check our URL : http://www.ochadokoro.com