[2023年 06月 TO 08月]
Hi I’m Itsaya! I’m intern number 151 at Obubu and I will share a little part of my history! I’m from France and I dreamed of coming to Japan since 6 years ago! I have a degree in Japanese. I learned the Japanese culture, history, and literature at university. I also worked in a tea shop in France, Palais Des Thés, for a year and a half.
I was so excited to blend my two passions when I found Obubu!
Obubu’s goal is to share their knowledge with people from all over the world. They have an incredible internship for learning about Japanese tea but also for learning more about yourself!
In daily Japanese life, every day I am immersed in the world of Tea!
There is indeed so much to learn about Japanese Tea: harvesting, processing, Japanese teaware, different kinds of preparations, and so much more.
I had no idea that we would be in such an incredible environment; we are surrounded by tea fields, forests, and rice fields in Wazuka. The Japanese countryside is so beautiful!
I think all of Obubu’s activities are wonderful and they make me grow!
But to be honest, I have one favourite activity….THE PROCESSING!!!
While working in Palais Des Thés, I read a book about how we process green tea. Being here in person, processing tea myself is so enriching! I was so excited about making my very own tea! This experience helped me to gain a better understanding of processing, something that I had only learned through books. And I’m looking forward to sharing all my new tea knowledge with my co-workers back in France. Unfortunately, they won’t be able to smell the lovely perfume of the leaf throughout the processing, they can’t touch the leaves and feel how they transform as they move from one machine to another. Now that I’ve experienced Obubu, I am convinced that if we want to be skilled in tea, the best way is come to Obubu!
Actually, I have a secret… I have two favourite activities…THE FARMING!
I always wondered how it’s possible to have as much precision on a machine as hand-picking. Cutting the leaves so fast and with such exactness is fascinating. It also makes the tea field so beautiful. In Wazuka, the sound of the harvesting machine is everywhere. It is so nice to see a village share the same passion and put in so much effort to make good tea.
Harvesting and trimming are not too difficult, but we have to communicate with our partner. And Akky-San is so amazing! I would like to be like him, he is a true tea whisperer. For me, the most difficult part is my fear of not being as good at harvesting or trimming, because I want to make the perfect tea and have nicely shaped tea bushes.
Most of all, I think being in the tea field, surrounded by the mountains and the forest, listening to the birds sing is an indescribable experience! I can’t believe how beautiful the tea fields are! I was surprised by the road to the tea fields. They are nice but very narrow. But for me, it’s an illustration of the Japanese way of thinking. In France, we destroy the forest to create roads. In Japan, it’s like we are asking the forest for permission to pass through it. Nature reclaims its rights. We follow the curve of the mountains, we go through between the branches, we cross the bridge above the river. It is very beautiful.
If I can summarise, Obubu internship is an amazing experience! If I could I stay here for a very long time I would love too! I’m always learning about Japanese tea, farming, and different brewing methods. Also, this internship makes me become more resourceful.
If your goal is to expand your knowledge about tea, please apply for Obubu!
If your goal is to work closely with nature please apply for Obubu!
If you want to be immersed in daily Japanese life, please apply for Obubu!
If you want to enjoy life, please apply for Obubu!