< Table of Contents >

• New Value of Japanese Tea through Sustainable Agriculture

• What is the Chagusaba Farming Method?

• Why was it recognized as a World Agricultural Heritage Site?

• Why choose Japanese tea as a sustainable gift?

• Stories convey the “will” of the brand

• Environmentally Conscious Gifts are the Gift of Choice

We are now in an age where companies and brands are being asked about the “meaning” and “story” of the items they offer.

As keywords such as “plastic-free,” “carbon neutral,” and “ethical consumption” become more commonplace, sustainable gifts are becoming more than just “souvenirs” or “mementos,” but are becoming symbols that embody the values of a company.

Tea products are now attracting attention as a new way to express Japan's local values.

Apoptosis offers bottled tea, sparkling tea, and easy-to-enjoy tea bags made from tea leaves grown by the unique Chagusaba farming method in the Kakegawa area of Shizuoka Prefecture.

Many of you may have never heard of the tea plantation farming method.

This farming method is a sustainable system that has been registered as a World Agricultural Heritage Site (GIAHS) and embodies a form of “symbiosis with nature” that goes beyond mere local production for local consumption.

In this issue, we will introduce the appeal of the Chagusaba farming method and why it is now being chosen as a “gift”.

What is the Chagusaba Farming Method? ─ Traditional Japanese techniques to make the best use of nature

Chagusaba farming is a farming method that has been practiced around Kakegawa City, Shizuoka Prefecture, for many years, and is a way of farming in harmony with nature.

Miscanthus, Japanese pampas grass, and other grasses are cut and dried from the grassland surrounding the tea plantation (tea meadow) and spread over the ridges of the tea plantation to produce the following effects.

• Maintains moderate soil humidity and temperature

• Suppress weeds

• Creates richer soil through the activation of microorganisms

• Reduce the use of fertilizers and pesticides

As a result, it is said that high quality tea leaves with much more depth and umami can be grown.

Furthermore, the continued care of the meadow protects the habitat of rare plants and insects, thus making a significant contribution to the preservation of satoyama biodiversity.

Why was it recognized as a World Agricultural Heritage Site?

In 2013, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) recognized this tea plantation farming method as a World Agricultural Heritage Site (GIAHS) as the “Shizuoka Tea Plantation Farming Method.

The reasons for the recognition include

• Harmony between the ecosystem and agriculture

• Inheritance of traditional techniques

• Linkage with the local economy

• Low environmental impact production system

  
  

In other words, the tea plantation farming method is not just an eco-friendly farming method, but a model of agriculture built in harmony with the community and nature.

Why choose Japanese tea as a sustainable gift?

Apoptosis handles tea leaves from Kakegawa, Shizuoka Prefecture, which are grown using the tea plantation farming method.

Products manufactured using these tea leaves not only leave a lasting impression on the recipient, but also convey the value of the gift.

Example)

✔ Appeal as corporate SDGs and CSR activities

- Gifts that convey that the product is environmentally friendly

- Contributes to preserving Japanese tea culture for the future

- Easily sympathize with younger generation who are interested in sustainable production

✔ Value as an item

- Can be made with original label and original package

- Non-alcoholic and can be given to anyone

✔ Examples of usage

- Novelty for environmental and sustainability related events

- Novelty for environmental and sustainability events

- Gift with Japanese flavor for inbound customers

Stories convey the “will” of the brand

It is said that a gift is a business card without words.

Apoptosis' Japanese teas, which are produced using the Chakusoba farming method, incorporate values such as sourcing raw materials from sustainable agriculture, a production system that respects the community and the environment, and a beverage that embodies the Japanese food culture and coexistence with nature.

These products can convey a company's credibility and perspective on the future.

Environmentally Conscious Gifts are the Gift of Choice

Japanese tea has long been considered a staple of formal gifts, but Kakegawa tea, made by the tea plantation farming method, adds a narrative and social dimension of “symbiosis with nature” to the mix.

For companies that are interested in the SDGs and sustainable management, choosing such a product is not just an act of gift-giving, but also an effective way to demonstrate their corporate stance and branding.

Apoptosis can produce original labels for corporate clients, and can handle small-lot orders.

Please feel free to contact us for more information.

▼ Contact us for OEM, novelties, etc.

https://www.apoptosisday.com/contact

Reference List

• 世界農業遺産 静岡の茶草場農法

• Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) Traditional Tea-grass Integrated System in Shizuoka, Japan