We participated in tea picking at a tea plantation in Sotome, on May 2nd 2026.
These fields were cultivated for over 17 years by Father de Rotz, a French Catholic missionary priest, who was assigned to the area in 1879 (Meiji 12).
Beyond his missionary work, Father de Rotz sought practical ways to improve the lives of Sotome’s residents.
The tea trees shown here in the photograph are Yabukita cultivar. There are also still Mishō tea trees, which are seed-grown. There are even a few seed-grown tea trees that are about 100 years old.
When de Rotz first arrived to the region, he saw the extreme poverty. This made him motivated to find ways to help the region as a whole. Through the Shitsu Aid Center, he introduced industries such as weaving, bread making, somen and pasta production, while also promoting the cultivation of crops including sweet potatoes, wheat, and tea. These initiatives provided both food and income for local families, leaving a lasting legacy that can still be felt in the region today.
Preservation and restoration work has been completed on the “Ohira Workshop Site” (shown above). The workshop site was used as a storage and workshop for crops from the reclaimed fields during the time of Father de Rotz. Over the years, the stonework has deteriorated, and the building has become a ruin. In order to minimise the deterioration of the de Rotz wall, which is a national cultural property, a roof has been added to preserve it.
Hand-picked tea leaves. We picked 60 kg of fresh tea leaves (the Sisters picked most, starting earlier in the day and picking longer than the tea picking event open for public!)
After the work was done, we enjoyed dango soup and new tea made by the sisters of Sotome Monastery a few days earlier.
The tea picking was a really special and unique event. Thank you so much to the Sotome Monastery for the wonderful time!
