The future of green tea depends almost entirely on the demand from the growing population of Japan, but a taste for the “foreign style” black tea—­with condensed milk—­is spreading.  The cheap labour of India and China and the big plantations and factories of India have diminished the Japanese green tea trade and the effort to produce black tea is also met by foreign competition.  I was told that China tea receives much sunshine while growing, and that there was most hope for Japanese black tea when made from leaves grown in the extreme south.  There is a difference between the Chinese and the Japanese tea plant and it cannot be got over by importing Chinese plants, for the climate of Japan simply Japanises the imported sort.

I found in the United States that green tea is bought, as it is no doubt sold in Shidzuoka, on appearance.  American housewives were paying for an appearance that matters little in an article that is not to be looked at but soaked.  Not only is much extra labour required for sifting the leaf several times in order to obtain a good appearance, but the bulk is reduced from 5 to 10 per cent.  The drinking quality of the tea also suffers, for the largest leaf has usually the best cup quality.  If teas were bought for cup quality only they might be at least from 5 to 10 per cent. cheaper.

FOOTNOTES: 

[201] At many stations one used to have handed into the carriage for less than a penny a pot of tea and a cup—­you are entitled to keep both pot and cup if you like.  The tea-seller’s kettle of water is kept hot with charcoal.  Tea is freshly infused in each customer’s pot.

[202] For statistics and theine percentages, see Appendix LVII.

EXCURSIONS FROM TOKYO

CHAPTER XXXIV

A COUNTRY DOCTOR AND HIS NEIGHBOURS

(CHIBA)

What was yet wanting must be sought by fortuitous and unguided excursions and gleaned as industry should find or chance should offer.—­JOHNSON

When I first went to Chiba, the peninsular prefecture lying across the bay from Tokyo, many carriages in the trains were heated by iron hibachi[203]with pieces of old carpet thrown over them.  It is on the Chiba trains that the recruits of that section of the army which has to do with the operation of the railways learn their business.  It is in part of Chiba—­and also in a district in Tokyo prefecture—­that the earliest rice is grown.  Chiba also contains more poultry than any other prefecture.[204] It has the further distinction of having tried to issue truthful crop statistics.[205]