JAPAN: MIYAZAKI ORGANIC TEA GARDEN KAMI-NO-EN
The Kami-no-En organic tea garden is located in Miyazaki Prefecture, on the southern main island of Kyushu and close to the Pacific coast. Inspired by his father, Naoki Kamimizu founded the tea garden in 2009. He runs it with great enthusiasm and creativity along with his wife Misa, his mother Etsuko, and his uncle. The Morimoto family, fellow organic tea gardeners, have helped and advised them from the very beginning.
Inspired by his father
When he was in his early thirties, Naoki Kamimizu decided to give up his previous job and return to his home in Miyazaki. There he initially helped out in a tea garden. His interest in tea was no coincidence: his father Yoshihito had already completed a degree at the Tea Research Institute in Miyazaki and had been advising tea gardens on production for decades. Most recently, he was responsible for aracha production in a tea garden – and in this same garden, his son Naoki helped out and discovered the art of tea production for himself.
Kami-no En – Their own tea garden
Naoki soon harboured the desire to run his own tea garden. When the opportunity arose to take over some tea fields and an old aracha factory in the area, it was a twist of fate. Thanks to the father’s extensive knowledge and experience and the son’s great enthusiasm and drive, the factory was quickly refurbished and given a new lease on life. You can feel the family’s dedication and care in the production hall, which is perfectly organised down to the last detail. For example, they have installed additional sorting mechanisms in several places in order to make the tea even more fine.
The tea garden is called Kami-no-En in reference to the family name. At around 6.6 hectares, it is an average size for a Japanese family tea garden. The tea garden plots are spread over eight locations in the village of Kawaminami. Some of them are located directly next to the production facilities, while others are further away and cannot be visited daily. During the spring growing season, it sometimes happens that a metre-high bamboo plant will suddenly sprout from the middle of the tea field a week after the last walk-through.
Support from the Morimoto family for organic cultivation
From the very beginning, Naoki Kamimizu endeavoured to use as few pesticides and artificial fertilisers as possible. In 2014, he converted the tea garden completely to organic cultivation. Though Naoki already knew tea farmers who practised organic cultivation, his meeting with Shigeru Morimoto was the crucial factor in his decision. Tea farmers Haruyo and Shigeru Morimoto, who also live and work in the village of Kawaminami, were pioneers of organic tea cultivation in the region in the 1970s. Naoki Kamimizu met Shigeru at the local tea growers‘ association. Shigeru was the chairman of the association at the time; Naoki took over as deputy chairman. Shigeru was impressed by the young tea farmer’s commitment and quickly placed his trust in him.
Haruyo and Shigeru Morimoto are committed to supporting younger generations of tea farmers. They have also had close ties with the Kadota family of organic tea farmers in the neighbouring village for many years. When Naoki and Misa Kamimizu set up their tea garden, the Morimotos provided them with comprehensive support, from converting to organic cultivation and learning how to carry out the final processing of the tea to their step in the direction of Europe. The Morimotos pass on the knowledge they have acquired over decades to Naoki and Misa, allowing them to follow in their footsteps to a certain extent. You can sense how proud the Morimotos are of the young tea farming couple, the Kamimizus.
Rare cultivars and scenic diversity
The tea fields of Kami-no-En are home to the tea bush varieties (cultivars) Yutaka Midori, Kanaya Midori and Yabukita, which are already familiar to tea drinkers in Europe from other organic tea gardens. They also cultivate other, less commonly grown varieties such as Yamakai and Komakage, as well as Yamanami, which originates in Miyazaki. The variety of landscapes in the tea garden plots also reflects the diversity of Miyazaki’s nature. From some fields, you can see across the plain to the Pacific Ocean; from others, your eye sweeps over deep green mountain landscapes with small village settlements.
Soil activation with unusual ingredients
Always inquisitive and open to new ideas, Naoki came across a special type of soil activation in an agricultural magazine a few years ago, and he has been using it ever since. Twice a year, he prepares a mixture of common household ingredients such as yoghurt, yeast, natto bacteria and water. The mixture is fermented for a week and then diluted with water. This is intended to promote the microorganisms in the soil and thus strengthen the health of the tea plants. Naoki himself checks whether the soil is active and alive by examining the looseness of the soil.
Family legacy and family ties
While Naoki concentrates on processing and tea production, his wife Misa drives the harvester. Originally a nurse, she was familiar with farming from an early age since her grandfather was a rice farmer. Naoki’s charming mother, Etsuko, supports them wherever she can, and can often be found in the fields pulling weeds. Naoki’s uncle, Etsuko’s brother, also works on the farm and helps with the harvest. This was Naoki’s father’s job until recently: Yoshihito Kamimizu passed away in 2023. His legacy lives on in the Kami-no-En tea garden.
With three young children and the family tea garden, the Kamimizus have their hands full. But Naoki’s warm, even-tempered smile and Misa’s shining eyes show how much they enjoy their work. The loving interaction between the family members is evidence of a strong bond and deep trust. And there’s no doubt that the little ones also contribute to the wonderful atmosphere with their inexhaustible good humour.
Operations are complete: final processing in-house since 2023
Since 2023, the Kami-no En tea garden team has carried out even final processing (shiage) of the teas themselves: this represents the last piece of their operational puzzle. Until now, like many tea farmers, they had left the shiage to specialised processors, or to the Morimoto family. It was important for them to first concentrate on, and perfect, pre-processing (aracha production); then they were ready for the next step.
As luck would have it, the plot of land next to their home became available some time ago, and they built a small finishing room there. A carpenter friend of theirs, who also designed the Morimotos‘ cosy home, was responsible for the loving design, with fragrant cedar doors and beams. The Morimotos also had a major influence on the technical equipment. Shigeru not only supported the new generation as an experienced mentor, but the Kami-no En tea garden was even able to take over some of the machinery from the Morimoto family. They have expanded their own facility and left their older, smaller machines to the new generation. There, the Kamimizus can now finally sort and heat the aracha (pre-processed tea) and prepare it for its journey to Europe.
Kami-no-En in Europe
The family is overjoyed that, since 2023, they have been able to carry out all processing steps themselves, from cultivation and pre-processing to the final production. Their partnership with MARIMO began one year earlier. The Kamimizu family were also able to impress Haruyo and Shigeru Morimoto with the quality of their teas and their philosophy. When they introduced their young neighbours to MARIMO, the foundation stone for our collaboration was laid. Misa and Naoki Kamimizu are delighted to be able to offer their teas to tea lovers in Europe for the first time. You can sense their pride that, even as self-described „career changers“, they have managed to build up their own tea garden and to produce excellent organic teas.
