Obubu Ambassador Program

The Obubu Ambassador Program is an initiative accessible to Obubu interns, which aims for Obubu and graduated interns to stay connected, be supported, and continue sharing Japanese teas with the world!

The Obubu Ambassador Program is based on three pillars :

People and Community: We want people from our own community to learn from and grow an appreciation for the people working in other tea communities. The Obubu Ambassador channel is a way for Obubu and interns to stay in touch and foster relationships.

Education: Teaching about Japanese Tea also means teaching about its culture. We want to encourage people to learn about the culture and history of tea. Through this program, previous interns are able to access more educational content about tea, and can use Obubu content to create their own workshops!

Bringing Japanese Tea to the World: Sharing tea makes us happy, and we want to share this with everyone! By becoming Ambassadors of the brand, interns help us spread our passion of tea in their own countries.

Requirements

In order to become Obubu Ambassadors, interns must meet specific requirements which are evaluated throughout the internship.

1. Qualification examination

2. Intern Project

3. Graduation work

Written and brewing examination, farming, processing, tea tours, etc.

Complete an intern project and present it to Obubu’s members

Finish all deadlines and complete all projects

Program Perks

After graduation, ambassadors receive the Ambassador Starter Pack (a samue, a white futunashi kyusu, a tote bag and tea) and gain access to Obubu’s content (photography, presentations…). Obubu Ambassadors also have a stamp on their previous intern picture to recognize their exceptional work throughout the internship.

Ambassadors get priority for volunteering, joining events, staying at Obubu, and much more! They are able to partake in:

  • Access to a series of tea workshop content,
  • Publicity of tea workshops on Obubu’s social media, subject to request and approval,
  • Channel to learn and share best practices & resources with one another,
  • Access to Assistant Manager Education classes online to learn about Japanese tea in depth,
  • A database of photographic content from Obubu.

Branding Rules for Ambassadors

To use Obubu’s content, ambassadors must credit all activities (pictures, slides, etc.) to Obubu in a certain way: verbal reference (“This guide is provided by Kyoto Obubu Tea Farms in Japan for which I am an Ambassador”) or written logo/reference on the material itself.

Q&A

Do I need to create a tea business/make tours once I become an Ambassador?

Becoming an ambassador does not mean that you are required to become active in this role. You do not have to do a workshop or actively share Japanese tea to the world. Joining the program simply means that you can do it if ever you want/need to in the future.

What are the differences between an ambassador and a regular intern?

Previous Intern (Not an Ambassador): Cannot use our content for lucrative purposes; does not receive priority; does not get a certificate or stamp.

Previous Intern (An Ambassador): Can use our content for lucrative purposes; will receive priority if they want to volunteer, stay at the Obubu house or join an Obubu event; will get a certificate and stamp; can have access to AME after internship.

Will Obubu build my business?

No. You will have to build your own business, we do not build it for you! We will not create workshops or tours for you apart from the ones already created.

What happens if I want to join the ambassador program after the internship?

You will not be able to join the ambassador after the internship unless you were interning before 2024. If you interned before 2024 you may send us a specific request and we will decide the next steps for graduation.

Do I need to report all my activities to Obubu?

No, it is not mandatory to inform us about how you utilize our content, as long as it adheres to one fundamental rule: it should contribute to sharing Japanese tea to the world. However, Obubu retains the right to oversee the content and may revoke or request the removal of content. Additionally, Obubu should have the ability to request access to your content (without utilizing it) if you are incorporating Obubu’s brand.

Can I use teas other than Obubu’s teas for workshops/tours/etc.?

Yes, you may use other Japanese teas when using our content because it is still helping to share Japanese tea to the world. Please make sure that it is clear which content comes from Obubu. You may also use other types of tea during your workshop as long as you do not use our content and brand for those teas. For example: one slide on matcha with our content (including our logo) and then one slide on yunnan tea without any of our content.

Can I design my own tours using Obubu’s content?

Yes, as long as your tour helps share Japanese tea to the world and the content is branded as coming from Obubu. You can build your own tours, content etc. using Obubu’s content.

Can I use Obubu content for a company that is not mine?

No, but you may host workshops for your co-workers for educational purposes. The content cannot not be used for lucrative purposes under these circumstances. Be mindful when sharing our content and make sure everbody knows that they cannot use it for themselves. If you are building your company with another person that is not an ambassador, your situation will be considered separately.