'Darcy' Sencha Okuharuka

Jiro Katihara is a master of single cultivar sencha in Shizuoka. Following in his fathers footsteps, Jiro-san is now owner of Houkouen, a beautiful tea farm situatued 350m above sea level in the picturesque mountains of Ryogochi, Shizuoka.
Jiro takes a special pride in his more than 20 different cultivars scattered throughout the mountains of Ryogchi. In a rapidly changing tea-landscape in Japan, Jiro takes a very traditional and measured approach to tea cultivation. With a focus on single cultivar teas, Jiro aims to really tell the story of the land. All the tea plants are rarely trimmed back or pruned too hard, and machinery is seldom used, handpicking is still employed. 
The Houkouen tea factory is also a treasure trove of antique tea machines, some 70+ years old. Jiro maintains and fixes them himself, and takes huge pride in still operating them to make his prized teas. 
As Jiro says in his own words "Yes, I am the biggest green-tea-freak and it is no secret around here. I promise you that I will be the top of the greatest Japanese green-tea farmers!" ~ I tend to agree! 

Shizuoka Prefecture, located along Japan’s Pacific coast in central Honshu, is the nation’s leading tea-producing region. Thanks to its mild ocean-influenced climate, abundant rainfall, and mineral-rich volcanic soils in the foothills of Mount Fuji, Shizuoka offers ideal conditions for tea cultivation.
Tea from Shizuoka is predominantly sencha. Expansive lowland plantations like the Makinohara Plateau produce mellow, rich fukamushi teas, while the mountain valleys of Honyama (along the Abe and Warashina rivers) craft lightly steamed leaves known for their clear, refreshing aroma.
Notably, Shizuoka is the birthplace of the prized Yabukita cultivar that now dominates Japanese tea gardens.
Shizuoka offers an unparalleled range of Japanese green teas – from brisk, aromatic high-mountain brews to deeply steamed, mellow cups – all from one region.