Interview with the couple, Nobuzane and Mitsuko Tsuneki
We spoke with the third-generation owner, Nobuzane Tsuneki, and his wife, Mitsuko, about their commitment to their products and the events they hold irregularly at their store.
What is your commitment to the flagship product, "Kurashiki Hojicha"?
Nobuzane
Since I was a child, I have watched my father roast (hojicha). It's not so much a commitment, but I want to cherish and pass on the taste that my grandfather and father have created since the founding.
Hojicha's flavor and aroma change significantly depending on the roasting level, making it a product that strongly reflects the personality of the shop.
Along with roasting, the flavor of hojicha is also influenced by blending, and currently, we use a blend of 5 to 6 types of tea leaves.
The current blend was created after the previous and the one before that tried numerous tea leaves over several decades, through trial and error. We are careful to provide high-quality and delicious hojicha without changing the traditional taste that has been passed down through generations.
In 2014, we participated in the Japan Tea Award, and Kurashiki Hojicha won the Platinum Award in the Aroma Tea category.
I heard that a collaboration product with Fujito Manju has also been developed.
Mitsuko
The collaboration product with Fujito Manju, "Tea that Makes Fujito Manju Delicious," is an original tea made to pair with Fujito Manju.
In the process of commercialization, we first decided on the base tea while tasting with Fujito Manju. Next, we created several blends with different teas and had Fujito Manju taste them. Finally, they selected their favorite tea, and the current tea was created.
This tea is sold at Fujito Manju's stores (main store and Kushida store).
Please tell us about the street live events held in the Bikan Historical Area store during spring and autumn.
Nobuzane
We hold street live performances by the music unit "Choco Choco" once during the Golden Week in May and once during the "Kurashiki Jazz Street" event held in November in front of the Bikan Historical Area store.
Using the eaves of the store as a stage, the performance takes place in an atmosphere unique to a tea shop, with tea boxes lined up.
I play the guitar, and my wife Mitsuko plays the keyboard. We are joined by long-time friends on bass, guitar, drums, and ukulele.
On the day, we perform about 3 songs per stage, for a total of 4 to 5 stages every hour.
That sounds fun! What inspired you to start street live performances?
Nobuzane
In the past, I saw a video of the streets of Budapest (the capital of Hungary) filled with music, and I thought I would like to do something like that someday.
Finally, please give a message to the readers.
Nobuzane
I believe that the way of tea exists alongside the way of the samurai.
The reason is that the word "tea" is used in a rather loose (playful) way, as seen in expressions like "to tease," "playful," and "chaotic."
I imagine that the tea ceremony (the way of tea) existed as a healing world in contrast to the tense samurai code of the Muromachi to Sengoku periods.
Therefore, it must be important to make everyone I meet through the tea shop smile. I stand in the shop every day with that feeling.
Conclusion
I have always enjoyed the taste of "Kurashiki Hojicha."
Through this interview, I learned about products other than Kurashiki Hojicha and the unknown history of the shop, which made me feel even closer to it.
Additionally, the owner's spirit as a tea master and his words encouraging people to enjoy tea with more playfulness were also impressive.
As a producer of enjoyable moments through tea, I hope that they will continue to brighten the back alleys of Kurashiki as a beloved shop for both locals and tourists.
Data on Tsuneki Tea Shop
| Name | Tsuneki Tea Shop |
|---|---|
| Address | Ekimae Store: 2-3-24 Achi, Kurashiki City / Bikan Historical Area Store: 3-9 Honmachi, Kurashiki City |
| Contact | 086-422-1427 |
| Parking | None Use nearby paid parking |
| Business Hours | [Ekimae Store] 10:00 AM - 5:30 PM [Bikan Historical Area Store] 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM |
| Regular Holidays | [Ekimae Store] Sundays, Mondays, and public holidays *If Monday is a public holiday, the following business day is closed [Bikan Historical Area Store] Irregular holidays |
| Payment Methods |
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| Website | Tsuneki Tea Shop |
