Well, you must be wondering what tea masters do in their work. Maeda let me see the actual situation.
M: To see tea means, like this, to watch, smell and taste actually. When I was a beginner, every tea had shown no difference at all. I have to make sure what mediators have brought.
Next, he guided me to their warehouse. Offing my shoes and taking a pair of mules, I went to see the inside. Several brawny men were shouldering boxes of tea and shaking tea leaves.
Subsequently, Mr. Maeda took me upstairs. That looked just like a wooden house full of tricks. The machines were said to be vintage stuff although they didn’t use at the time.
M: A box of tea weighs about 45 kilograms. Tea masters need strength since have to carry on shoulder and pile up time after time. Most of recent young people are not so strong, it is one of reasons that tea master wannabes have been on the decrease. I guess it is pretty hard for women. Boxes in these refrigerated rooms are lighter because it weighs about 25 kilograms.
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The box weighs about 45 kilograms.
Mr. Maeda dexterously shouldered one.
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Boxes in the refrigerated room.
This picture doesn't show the coldness.
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It was very cold because it gave us a temperature of -3 degrees. That was beyond what I had expected. But keeping in the coldness lets us have a cup of delicious tea.
Tea masters are very hard, I guess. Needing mental and physical strength, to train their senses, and moreover, information about tea. Perhaps they are made by their environment, but it looks a quietly difficult job. I asked him what tea master wannabes need most.
M: I have no idea about other masters. I believe it is important not to be confident. I have worked as a tea master for 30 years, but I am still diffident and worried. Nobody can expect what nature makes next. Tea is just one of favorite articles and then, no tea can be popular with everybody. A customer said the tea I produced tasted not tea, which made me pretty disappointed. Worrying makes me tackle carefully and go ahead. If I can be perfectly confident, I will find no next destination at all. So, I have lately remembered that it is just right I am worried.
You can be more powerful, more intelligent, and an artisan by training. However, you will never be unrivaled no matter how far you grow. His style is to face everything and to take a new step carefully and respectfully, not to humble. No matter what kind of job you belong to, it must be useful having the mental attitude.
Interview & Text: Misaka Youhei