Category Archives: Assistant Manager Blogs

Assistant Manager Blog by Mia: Flourishing

July – August 2025 Among other things, Summer at Obubu was full of sweaty farming days, delicious Summer Sencha, insects, countless cold brews, beautiful sunsets, and black tea-making. It was hot yet beautiful and restful yet eventful. July One of the highlights of July was making Wakoucha with Tran (AM #12) and interns Zehra (#196), […]

A Summer of Sunshine and Spiders: Assistant Manager Blog by Nicole

And just like that, we’re halfway through our time here.  The summer is here – formally hailing the arrival of Tsuyu (the rainy season) and informally, Frog and Bug Season. The frog choir in the rice paddy across from Hojicha House has now been joined by the cicada chorus, drowning out the hum of the […]

FINALLY spring – Assistant Manager Blog by Tran

Goodbyeee winter, hellooooo spring!  As long as we waited for the spring season, it came and left in a blink of an eye just like the fleeting sakura season that was brought with it.  The cake making continued to flow from March into April as Pau and Miwako had birthdays during this month, just a […]

Is Japanese summer that bad?- AM blog by Mari (#11) [Summer 2025]

Everyone tried to warn me about the Japanese summer and every time I would respond with confidence: “I am from Italy, I will be fine”.  It was not. Summer has always been the strangest period of the year, full of very high ups and very low downs and…this year also was no different! Still, summer […]

Spring is here! – AM blog by Marilena #11

From the cold and dry winter we finally started stepping into the blooming season. Spring here has such an enchanting and magical power!  The awakening of the season started in the most precious way! We took part in a handpicking and handrolling event held by Kenta-san, president of the Hand Rolling Preservation Society but also […]

Assistant Manager Blog by Mia: Rooting

May-June 2025 Hello again! Welcome to the second chapter of my assistant manager blog series. One of the most memorable parts of this quarter was the Spring harvest and processing. I still clearly remember the first day of Spring harvest, Hachiju-Hachiya. It was so incredible to see the factory alive this night and throughout the harvesting […]