This Year’s Kansai Matcha Competition 2025 Results
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The 77th Kansai Tea Competition
The Kansai Tea Competition (関西茶品評会) is an annual competition across six prefectures in the Kansai and Tokai regions. The event was hosted by six prefectures - Kyoto, Shiga, Gifu, Aichi, Mie, and Nara - as well as the Kansai Tea Industry Council, among others.
The competition this year was held from August 6th to 8th at the Uji Tea Hall in Uji, Kyoto Prefecture. Of the five categories, producers from Kyoto Prefecture won the top award, the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award, in four categories.
342 Japanese teas were entered in the categories of Tencha (unground matcha), as well as gyokuro, kabusecha, regular sencha, and deep-steamed sencha, including 144 kinds of tea from Kyoto and 18 kinds of tea from Shiga.
Context Note The competition is known as the "Kansai Tea Competition," not the "Kansai Matcha Competition." We labeled the article "Matcha" to make it more relevant to our readers: you!
4 Reasons Why the Kansai Tea Competition Matters to Matcha
What makes the Kansai Tea Competition so important? Some farmers Ooika works with have even stated at in some ways, the Kansai competition is more important than the national. Here’s why to care:
1 - Sets the Gold Standard for Matcha Quality
The judges (tea masters, industry experts) assess on color, aroma, umami, and overall balance. It set the benchmark of excellence for that year’s harvest, guiding buyers and producers.
2 - Influences Market Prices
The results directly affect auction pricing—award-winning Tencha can sell for many times the average. Premium matcha brands often highlight their use of competition-winning leaves, increasing their value on the global market.
3 - Drives Innovation in Cultivars & Techniques
The competition becomes a testing ground for what varieties and methods succeed, shaping the next wave of high-grade matcha production.
4 - Global Recognition & Branding
A prize-winning result is not only prestigious in Japan but also powerful for international marketing.Overseas buyers, distributors, and consumers look to competitions like Kansai as proof of authenticity and excellence.
Competition Judgement
Source: @kyoto_chagyoukenkyujo
24 judges meticulously assessed the appearance, aroma, and taste of the teas. This is the same method of judging used at the Japanese National Tea Competition.
The head judge, Yasushi Sato, Director of the Tea Industry Research Division at the National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, commented, "These are all magnificent masterpieces, crafted with solid technique to capture the characteristics of each tea variety."
2025 Winners & Results
Let’s break down the winners of the 2025 Kansai Tea Competition. There are two main categories: area awards and individual awards.
1st Place Of Production Area Awards
Area awards are based on the overall best material from a given geographical area. Similar to “New York City” winning over other nearby cities for a Tri-State pizza competition.
・Tencha Division (Unground Matcha) - (Uji City)
・Gyokuro Division (A shaded loose leaf tea) - (Kyotanabe City)
・Kabusecha Division (A briefly-shaded loose leaf team) - (Ayabe City)
・Sencha Division (the standard Japanese green tea) - (Minamiyamashiro Village)
1st Place Winners In Tencha Category
Now on to the individual awards: given to farmers that have produced the most excellent tea for at the competition as individual farmers. The competition has different divisions based on the type of tea. For the sake of this article, we’ll only cover Tencha (unground Matcha.)
・1) Mizuho Furukawa (Uji City)
・2) Yoshitsugu Furukawa (Uji City)
・3) Shogo Yamazaki (Uji City) - (Ooika carries this farmers’ Matcha.)
・4) Shunya Sakata (Kumiyama Town - (Ooika carries this farmers’ Matcha.)
・7) Koki Tsuji (Uji City) - (Ooika carries this farmers’ Matcha.)
Full Rankings
Below you can download (in Japanese) the full rankings here for this year’s Kansai Tea Competition.
Upcoming Tea Events in Kansai
In addition to the Kansai tea competition, here are a few other upcoming and notable tea events in the Kansai region:
Kitano Grand Tea Ceremony
Experience one of Kyoto’s most iconic tea gatherings, where you can enjoy a variety of tea-related programs and immerse yourself in the traditions of Japanese tea culture.
📍 Kitano Tenmangū Shrine, Kyoto
📅 October 11–13, 2025.
77th Kansai Tea Competition Award Ceremony & Exhibition
As part of the Kansai Tea Industry Promotion Convention, the award ceremony will honor this year’s top teas. Winning teas from the competition will also be on display—an excellent opportunity to see the highest quality tencha and matcha recognized in Japan.
📍 Uji City Cultural Hall
📅 November 15, 2025.
AI Statement No AI was used in the creation of this content. All Ooika articles, content, emails and more are written and reviewed by real people.
Announcing the winners of the 2025 Kansai Tea Competition, and why it’s important for Matcha lovers.