Before
Before Obubu, I was working as routesetter at a climbing gym while going to school for herbal medicine. I hadn’t really thought much about what I wanted to do after graduating until my older sister threw out the idea of traveling to learn about tea outside of an herbal medicine context. It started out as more of a joke about moving to another country to learn about tea until I found Obubu and could actually see it happening. So, I filled out an application, and two months later I was flying to Japan to work on a tea farm for three months.
During
The first people I met were Tomas and our senpais, Doug and Katy. Tomas and I took the bus to Obubu together, and during our hour-long ride I asked him, “Do you know a lot about tea?” Mostly because I felt like I was going in with so little knowledge of Japanese tea.
He said, “I’ve been working in a tea house since I was 15.”
He was just telling the truth, but knowing Tomas now—and how many crazy stories he has—I can’t help but laugh. Of course this guy worked at a tea house at 15. It’s Tomas.
And as we drove up and I saw tea fields stretching left to right, I remember thinking, What the heck am I getting myself into?
The next person I met was senpai Ching, who gave me a hug immediately. Instantly, I felt welcomed and relieved. I had made it to Obubu.
Once all of us had arrived, the next week was full of training and jumping straight into spring harvest season. Our days at Obubu were filled with hosting tea tours, harvesting with Akky-san or Miwako-san, cafe shifts, and processing.
Some memories that have made my time at Obubu so memorable are our puzzle nights (I still can’t believe we finished it lol* :)), graduation tarot readings with Ching, McDonald’s dinner with Slot 2 and 3, the last tencha harvest in jinja with Jennifer, Akky-san, and DJ, hand-rolling with Miwako-san, impromptu sound healing at Hare-to-2ki Asamiya with Flori and Jessica, clubbing in Osaka with Tomas and Laura, game nights, trips to the climbing gym, Amanohashidate trip, Pizza night and karaoke, Katrina’s and Marusya’s herbal tea and summer solstice lounge, Kyoto tea festival with Jennifer and Fiona, Maren’s “fishy” teas and tasting notes lounge, Kyoto trips, Tsunagiba nights, Raja dinners, and Tokoname with Amber, Dhvani, Liszt, Garance, Chong Jun, and Donovan.
I have learned so much during my time at Obubu, and sharing this experience with such humble and kind people has left me feeling overwhelmed with gratitude. It’s hard to say goodbye, but I’m leaving with unforgettable memories and amazing friends from all around the world. Thank you for making these three months so special. <3
After
After Obubu, I plan to travel to Taiwan before flying back home to Chicago. I know I’ll continue sharing this deepened love for tea and what I learned while at Obubu.