70 Years History of The Kyoto Tea Cooperative Association
| 1949 |
The Kyoto Tea Cooperative Association was established on November 24th to replace the previous organization, due to the enforcement of the Small and Medium Business Association Law. It started with these businesses : Joint tea purchase, Joint material purchase, Joint cold storage and Joint sales. -Number of members: 160 companies -Number of investment unit: 477 -Investment amount: 964,000 yen |
|---|---|
| 1951 | -Construction of a wooden cold storage warehouse in Uji-Wakamori in Uji City, Kyoto was completed. (Size:75 Tsubo Area / Approximately 2669 Square Feet ) -The Emperor of Showa era, Hirohito visited Uji City, Kyoto and saw Uji Tea displayed at Todou Elementary School. |
| 1952 | -Construction of a second wooden cold storage warehouse in Tanabe-Cho(Current Kyotanabe City, Kyoto) was completed. (Two consecutive buildings - Size:56 Tsubo Area / Approximately 1993 Square Feet) |
| 1953 | -Flooding occurred in the Minamiyamashiro area in Kyoto on August 16th. The damage of affected members was conducted and recovery measures were established. 198,000 yen was raised by 76 association members and donated to this flooding. -On September 26th, Typhoon No. 13 caused flood damage again. |
| 1955 | -The 1st meeting for exchanging surplus tea was held for members. -As a commemorative project for a Tea Festival, a promotional car was sent across the area of Kyoto City and Osaka City to promote Uji Tea. -The business of Ayabe Tea (Ryotan Tea) sales agent launched, and the auction system began. |
| 1958 | -The metric system was enacted. The traditional Japanese measurement system called “Kanme'' was replaced with the kilogram and gram unit system. This started to be used at the new tea trade this year. -A new metric system scale was recommended to use. |
| 1959 | -The Kyoto Tea Association was reorganized and the Kyoto Tea Industry Association was established. -The Uji Tea logo was designed and registered as a trademark. |
| 1960 | -The 14th Kansai Region Tea Quality Competition was held in Kyoto. -Four Maikos(Apprentice Geisha) were sent to the National Tea Fair in Tokyo to hand out samples of Uji Tea and brochures. |
| 1961 | -The 15th National Tea Quality Competition and the National Tea Dealers Convention were held in Kyoto. -The national standard retail price of green tea was determined. |
| 1963 | -The National Federation of Tea Commerce and Industry Cooperative Associations was established. |
| 1967 | -The 1st stock tea exchange meeting was held. Since then, the meeting has been established as an association project. |
| 1969 | -The 22nd Kansai Region Tea Quality Competition was held in Kyoto. |
| 1970 | -The National Tea Quality Competition was held in Kyoto, and 210 people who were rewarded as meritorious Uji Tea sales representatives were invited. -Uji Tea was served at the Osaka Expo during "Kyoto Days" from August 2nd to 8th. |
| 1971 | -Joyo Cold storage warehouse was completed in May, located in Joyo City, Kyoto. -Land:2,320 ㎡/ 249744.2 square feet -Floor space: 1,019.014 ㎡ / 10968.58 square feet |
| 1974 | -The Kyoto Tea Trade Stabilization Fund Incorporated Association was established. |
| 1977 | -The 30th Kansai Region Tea Quality Competition was held in Kyoto. |
| 1978 | -The 32nd National Tea Quality Competition was held in Kyoto. -A meeting called “Listen to the real voice of consumers in Japan” was held. Tea specialty stores all over Japan were invited. -Two videos were produced, called "How Uji Tea is made" and "How to make delicious Uji Tea. |
| 1979 | -The 1st Uji Tea Quality Competition was held to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the association establishment. -Planning of constructing the Kyoto Tea Industry Center began and the site location was decided to be the Orii National Forest. -An investment increase was decided in accordance with the construction plan. |
| 1980 | -The land purchased for the Kyoto Tea Industry Center in September and construction started in October. |
| 1981 | -Construction of the Kyoto Tea Industry Center was completed in May. |
| 1983 | -Construction of a cold storage warehouse at the Kyoto Tea Industry Center was completed in March. |
| 1984 | -The 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Kyoto Tea Industry Association was celebrated at the Kyoto Tea Industry Center. |
| 1985 | -The Cover crop planting method was used at the Tea garden in Kyoto Tea Industry Center. -The 38th Kansai Region Tea Quality Competition was held in Uji City, Kyoto. |
| 1986 | -The Tea garden at the Kyoto Tea Industry Center had its first harvest. |
| 1988 | -The structure of the association was revised to have five vice presidents. |
| 1989 | -A general meeting was held to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the association establishment. -On February 1st, the fiscal year of the association was changed and the fiscal year ending date was revised to January 31st. -A tasting presentation of original French cuisine using green tea was held at the Miyako Hotel in Kyoto and experts in the field were invited. |
| 1990 | -A joint project with the Kyoto Tea Industry Association called “Uji Tea Express” was held. It was a round- trip train journey between Kyoto and Tokyo using the bullet train “Kodama Shinkansen”. |
| 1991 | -The Emperor of Heisei era, Akihito and Empress Michiko visited the Kyoto Tea Industry Center on May 26th. It was part of their local observation while attending the 42nd National Tree Planting Festival in Uji City, Kyoto. -An overseas market research team of 17 association members, led by Board chair Fukui, visited Indonesia and Singapore. -100 women from the Kanto region were invited to experience tea harvesting. They also got on a special event train called “Ochatsubo Train” as part of an Uji Tea Campaign co-hosted with the Kyoto Tea Industry Association. |
| 1992 | -A tea industry inspection team of 19 association members including Board chair Fukui visited China from January 11th to 16th. -300 female consumers from all over Japan were invited to experience picking the first tea of the season.They also joined a chartered boat trip called “Ochatsubo Cruise” from Nanko Pier, Osaka to Harumi Pier, Tokyo, co-hosted with the Kyoto Tea Industry Association. |
| 1993 | -Canned Uji Sencha green tea started to be manufactured and sold. -University students of Japanese tea ceremony clubs were invited to experience tea picking and a Japanese tea tasting competition was held for them. -The special airship named “Ochatsubo Douchu Airship” was sent to Tokyo to deliver the first tea of the season. |
| 1994 | -In collaboration with tea associations in Aichi, Kyoto, Osaka and Hyogo prefectures, consumers were invited to a tour experience to pick the first Uji Tea of the season. |
| 1996 | -The Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake struck the year before. Canned drinks were sent to the affected area as relief supplies, in cooperation with The Kyoto Tea Trade Stabilization Fund Incorporated Association. |
| 1997 | -Starting this term, the term of office for directors was changed from three years to two years. -Canned Hojicha green tea started to be manufactured and sold. |
| 1998 | -The 52nd National Tea Festival was held in Kyoto. -Kyoto Prefecture achieved good results at the National Tea Quality Competition. -The Governor of Kyoto presented a certificate plaque of appreciation to excellent Uji Tea dealers nationwide. |
| 1999 | -Board chair Syunsyo Kanbayashi and 11 others visited the Horticultural Expo in Kunming, China. And they also visited Xishuangbanna in China, which is the origin of tea. -The association celebrated its 50th anniversary. The celebration ceremony was held at the Miyako Hotel in Kyoto on the following year of 2000, March 20th. -Number of members: 156 companies. |
| 2000 | -The 53rd Kansai Region Tea Quality Competition, which planning and research started in 1998, was held in Kyoto. -A commemorative magazine of the Kyoto Tea Cooperative Association's 50th anniversary was completed and published. |
| 2002 | -Plastic bottled Uji Sencha green tea started to be manufactured and sold. -The second Joyo cold storage warehouse was completed to store plastic bottled drinks. |
| 2004 | -The problem of labeling the production site occurred in Japan, triggered by mad cow disease. - The Gyokuro Tea Promotion Association participated in the World Tea Fair as a promotional activity. -The definition of Uji Tea was determined and approved by four prefectures, and three organizations in the Kyoto Tea Industry. |
| 2005 | -Cooperation occurred in the development of a project to increase the number of tea plantations. It was mainly located in the Tango region in Kyoto to stabilize the supply of Uji Tea. -The Kyoto Yamashiro Uji Tea Summit, named “A forum for the 800-year of Uji Tea history and culture, and its taste and aroma” was held. -The second Joyo cold storage warehouse started to be used as storage for tea leaves. |
| 2006 | -Bird Flu, Accidents and Natural Disasters occurred repeatedly in Japan. -The Unusual warm winter hit and delayed the harvesting of the first tea of the season and reduced the production for this year. |
| 2007 | -"Uji Tea" was registered as a regional brand trademark. (Application submitted on April 1st in 2007) -Proper food labeling attracts public interests. As a result of multiple incidents of false ingredient origins and best-before dates. -The 60th Kansai Region Tea Industry Promotion Convention was held in Uji City,Kyoto. -The pre-event of the Thousandth Anniversary of Tale of Genji was held in Uji City, Kyoto. |
| 2008 | -Global recession caused by Lehmanshock occurred. -The Thousandth Anniversary of the Tale of Genji was held in Uji City, Kyoto. A number of promotional events were conducted. -The Uji Tea plastic bottle label was renewed. -Investment was made in the construction of the Kyotango Tea Factory in Kyotango City, Kyoto and the Association became a shareholder. |
| 2009 | -Construction of “Uji Tea Conference Hall” owned by the Kyoto Tea Industry Association was completed. -A new flu raged through Japan. |
| 2010 | -The 63rd Kansai Region Tea Industry Promotion Convention was held. |
| 2011 | -The Great East Japan Earthquake and the nuclear power plant accident happened on March 11th. -The food safety and security were in doubt as false rumors spread due to radiation problems caused by the nuclear power plant accident. -The Kyoto Tea Industry Association conducted and cooperated with radiation testing in each production area. |
| 2012 | -The highest record of heavy rainstorm hit the southern part of Kyoto. The tea plantation area of the association members suffered tremendous damage and also numerous members were affected by this rainstorm. |
| 2013 | -The 67th National Tea Festival in Kyoto was held. The main site was located at “Uji Park” in Uji City, and the sub site was at “Kitano Tenmangu Shrine” in Kyoto City. It attracted more than 100,000 visitors over the two days. |
| 2014 | -Uji City, Kyoto enacted two rules called "Rules Related to The Promotion of Uji Tea and The Fostering A Spirit of Hospitality" and "Making A Toast with Uji Tea”. |
| 2015 | -"800 Year History Walk of Japanese Tea in Yamashiro Area in Kyoto", a total of 32 sites, including 28 historic sites across 12 municipalities in Yamashiro area in Kyoto and 4 traditional tea rituals, was registered as a Japan heritage. -Renovation works at the Kyoto Tea Industry Center including adding a second cold storage warehouse and repairing the existing cold storage warehouse had started. It was supported by the “Local Power Up Project” by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. /td> |
| 2016 | -The Kumamoto Earthquake occured. -A number of typhoons landed in Japan. -The Rio Olympics were held. -The 69th Kansai Region Tea Promotion Conference was held in Kyoto. |
| 2017 | -Operations of the association processing business were terminated and the processing plant was demolished. |
| 2018 | -Construction of the second cold storage warehouse at the Kyoto Tea Industry Center, and the repairs of the first cold storage warehouse and platform were completed. -The new Uji Tea logo “Uji Sencha” for Uji Sencha Green Tea, "Uji Gyokuro” for Uji Gyokuro Green Tea and "Uji Matcha” for Uji Matcha Green Tea were registered as trademarks. (Application submitted on October 3rd in 2009) |
| 2019 | -"Uji Sencha(Uji Sencha Green Tea)" and "Uji Gyokuro(Uji Gyokuro Green Tea)" were registered as regional brand trademarks. (Application submitted on May 27th in 2007) -The 72nd Kansai Region Tea Industry Promotion Convention was held in Joyo City, Kyoto. |
| 2020 | -"Uji Matcha (Uji Matcha Green Tea)" was registered as a regional brand trademark. (Application submitted on May 27th in 2007) -The 70th anniversary of the association's establishment was scheduled to be celebrated with a general meeting and award ceremony. But due to emergency measures against the new COVID-19 pandemic, all events were cancelled. Commemorative gifts were mailed to the winners. -Glass bottled Uji Gyokuro green tea named "Tama-Usagi" began selling. -The number of members :122 Companies. |