According to the news of state television NHK, the first auction of the season was held at the traditional tea market, which has been held since 1957 in the city of Shizuoka, south of Tokyo.
At the auction, popular “yabukita” type green tea leaves consumed throughout the country were sold for 1.11 million yen per kilogram, the highest price ever.
After the price calculated by the brokers in the market with the local abacus “soroban”, an agreement was reached by performing the traditional “teuchi” in which the seller and the customer clapped three times at the same time.
A record price per kilogram was achieved.
Hideki Mochizuki, President of the Ryogochi Tea Industry Association, to which the farmers are affiliated, said in his statement, “We have produced a tea with a pleasant smell. We hope that people will like its taste and aroma.” said.
Officials stated that the decrease in tea harvest this year due to the continuing effect of cold weather towards the end of March increased sales prices.
The average price of tea sold at auction was 77 thousand 637 yen ($501) per kilogram.
AA