PRESS CONFERENCE
The Challenges for Japan's Tea Industry
Yoko Kamikawa, President, Japan Tea Central Association, Member, House of Representatives, LDP
Sadami Suzuki, Executive Director, Japan Tea Central Association
11:00-12:00 Friday, July 31, 2026
Language: The speech and Q & A will be in Japanese with English interpretation.
The Japanese government earlier this month registered "Nihon Cha", or Japanese tea, as a protected brand with Geographical Indication status amid a global matcha boom. On the downside, global demand has sparked a rise in fake products bearing Japanese regional names.
To speak on all matters Nihon Cha, which has seen a near doubling of exports, Rep. Yoko Kamikawa, an LDP member of the House of Representatives, and Sadami Suzuki, executive director of the Japan Tea Central Association, will come to the FCCJ with tea tasting for those at the Club as part of their caffeinated session.
Despite the boom in Japanese tea overseas, an aging farming population in Japan and a steady exodus from the industry have left Japan’s tea-growing sector on increasingly fragile soil. Rep Kamikawa and Mr. Suzuki will share the past, present, and future for Japan’s tea industry, as well as how to counter the growing problem of counterfeit matcha products.
How to attend:
Please register by emailing front@fccj.or.jp with your name and the name of your media outlet. FCCJ members should also include their membership number. Doors will open 15 minutes before the event.
How to watch online: https://www.youtube.com/c/FCCJchannel/live
How to ask questions: https://forms.gle/C978uT5efLWR7P4C9
TV crew: Please make a reservation at front@fccj.or.jp. Doors open for TV crews only at 30 minutes before the event. FCCJ will limit live-streaming of FCCJ-hosted press conferences to Club members only. Non-members will no longer be permitted to live-stream these events. However, non-members may still film for reporting purposes and use footage after the press conference.
Professional Activities Committee