The World of Turkish Tea: Feel the Charm, Taste the Heritage, and Enjoy the Experience
In December last year, the Eastern Black Sea Exporters Association (DKİB) held a three-day event in Tokyo to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Turkish tea culture and the century-long diplomatic relations between Türkiye and Japan. The event featured workshops on the art of brewing Turkish tea and a competition showcasing tea preparation skills. As a result, 30 new Turkish tea instructors were certified. This prompted the planning and organization of new tea gatherings to promote Turkish tea in some parts of Japan. One of these gatherings was hosted by Yoko Fukao, a newly certified Turkish tea instructor, to experience firsthand the sharing of Turkish tea culture.
Yoko Emine FUKAOTea Instructor
Japan Tea Association
You have been hosting tea gatherings for some time now. What inspired you to start these events?
In 1996, I earned my tea instructor certification from the Japan Tea Association, which led me to start hosting tea gatherings that centered on tea, including seminars about Japanese and Chinese varieties. These events take place at my home and guest seminars at various companies. Each event aims to foster learning and social interaction, with every session carefully designed to embody the current season and a specific theme.
The event is being held under "The World of Turkish Tea." Could you share the background and purpose that led to its organization?
In 2022, Turkish tea was registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, which inspired us to plan a seminar and tea gathering centered around Turkish tea. However, we had to suspend the event due to the devastating earthquake in Türkiye in 2023. In the spring of 2024, with the kind cooperation of the Yunus Emre Turkish Culture Center, located next to the Tokyo Mosque, we rescheduled and held the event as a charity gathering to support the recovery efforts in Türkiye. Additionally, in the summer, we hosted the same tea gathering at the Tsuchiya Group Ginza Showroom event space in Ginza.
In December, I was honored to receive a recommendation from the Japan Tea Association and became certified as a Turkish Tea Instructor after participating in the Turkish Tea Competition. Over the past year, I have developed a true appreciation for the profound charm of Turkish tea, and the wonderful cultural exchange between Türkiye and Japan. December event further fueled my desire to share this experience. With this in mind, I decided to organize this five-part series to convey the essence of Turkish tea and the cultural richness of the exchange between our two nations to as many people as possible.
Could you also share your aspirations for future program developments?
I aim to provide fresh and engaging content in every session, ensuring that both returning and new participants can enjoy unique discoveries. My goal is for participants not only to have a great time but also to immerse themselves in the charm of Turkish tea. I also hope to share this experience on social media, creating an opportunity for many people to engage in international cultural exchange with Türkiye through a shared love of tea. I am confident that this will foster deeper connections and a greater understanding between our two cultures.
