Interview with Shinzō and Mitsuko Tsuneki
We spoke with third-generation owner Shinzō Tsuneki and his wife, Mitsuko, about their dedication to their products and the events held periodically at the shop.
What makes your signature product, Kurashiki Hojicha, special?
Shinzō (surname omitted)
I’ve watched my father roast hojicha ever since I was a child. It’s not so much a matter of having a particular approach; I want to carefully carry on the flavor my grandfather and father have made since the shop was founded.
The flavor and aroma of hojicha change significantly depending on how it is roasted, making it a product that strongly reflects the character of each shop.
Along with roasting, blending also affects the flavor of hojicha. We currently blend and use five to six types of tea leaves.
The current blend was developed through trial and error over several decades, as the previous two generations tried many different tea leaves. We take care to provide delicious, high-quality hojicha without changing the traditional flavor passed down through the generations.
In 2014, we entered the “Japan Tea Award,” and Kurashiki Hojicha won the Platinum Award in the Aroma Tea category.
I hear you also developed a collaborative product with Fujito Manju
Mitsuko (surname omitted)
Our collaborative product with Fujito Manju, “Tea That Makes Fujito Manju Taste Even Better,” is, as its name suggests, an original tea created to pair with Fujito Manju.
To develop the product, we first tasted teas with Fujito Manju and decided on a base tea. Next, we made several blends by combining it with other teas and had Fujito Manju taste them. Finally, they chose their favorite, and that’s how the tea we sell today came about.
This tea is sold at Fujito Manju’s shops (the main shop and Kushida shop).
Tell us about the street performances held in spring and autumn outside your Bikan Historical Area shop
Shinzō
Every year, we hold a street performance by the music group “Choco Choco” outside our Bikan Historical Area shop once during Golden Week in May and once during the “Kurashiki Jazz Street” event in November.
The performances take place on the shop’s eaves-side space, with tea boxes arranged as a stage, creating an atmosphere unique to a tea shop.
I play guitar, and my wife Mitsuko plays keyboard. Longtime friends join us on bass, guitar, drums, ukulele, and other instruments.
Each performance features about three songs, and we play four to five sets in total, about once an hour.
That sounds like fun. What inspired you to start the street performances?
Shinzō
A long time ago, I saw footage of music filling the streets of Budapest, the capital of Hungary, and thought I’d like to do something like that someday.
Finally, do you have a message for our readers?
Shinzō
I believe the Way of Tea existed alongside the Way of the Warrior.
I say this because words like “teasing,” “playful,” and “utter chaos” use the word “tea” in a rather lighthearted (playful) way.
I imagine that the tea ceremony, or Way of Tea, was a healing world that existed as the complete opposite of the tense world of the samurai during the Muromachi and Sengoku periods.
That’s why I’m sure it’s important to be able to make everyone we meet through the tea shop chuckle. I come to work every day with that in mind.
From the Writer
I’ve enjoyed the flavor of Kurashiki Hojicha for some time. Through this interview, I learned about products beyond Kurashiki Hojicha and the shop’s little-known history, which made me feel even more connected to it.
I was also struck by the owner’s spirit as a tea practitioner and his wish for people to enjoy tea with a little more playfulness.
As a “producer who adds color to enjoyable moments through tea,” I hope the shop will continue to be loved by locals and visitors alike, brightening the backstreets of Kurashiki.
Tsuneki Tea Shop Information
| Name | Tsuneki Tea Shop |
|---|---|
| Address | Ekimae Shop: 2-3-24 Achi, Kurashiki City / Bikan Historical Area Shop: 3-9 Honmachi, Kurashiki City |
| Contact | 086-422-1427 |
| Parking | None Use nearby paid parking |
| Business hours | [Ekimae Shop] 10:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m. [Bikan Historical Area Shop] 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. |
| Closed | [Ekimae Shop] Sunday, Monday, and public holidays ※If Monday is a public holiday, closed the next business day [Bikan Historical Area Shop] Irregular holidays |
| Payment methods |
|
| Website | Tsuneki Tea Shop |
What would you like to know about Kurashiki?
Enter a search term to find articles on this site
