Japan's Tea Industry in 2025–2026: Official MAFF Data on Matcha, Tencha & Production Trends

Japan's Tea Industry in 2025–2026: What MAFF's Official Data Tells US Matcha Buyers

Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) — the official government body overseeing Japan's agricultural sector — has released its March 2026 edition of Ocha wo Meguru Jōsei ("The Current State of the Tea Industry"). This official government report compiles the most authoritative and up-to-date statistics on Japan's tea production, farm-gate pricing, and matcha demand. For US café owners, foodservice operators, and matcha buyers importing from Japan, MAFF's data provides a reliable, government-verified foundation for understanding where the Japanese tea market stands today.

Japan's Tea Production: A Shifting Landscape

According to MAFF's official figures, Japan's total cultivated tea area now stands at approximately 33,400 hectares nationwide, with total aracha (荒茶, aracha — unfinished raw tea processed directly from fresh-picked leaves at the farm) production at around 75,100 metric tons in fiscal year 2025. MAFF data confirms that the top three producing prefectures — Shizuoka, Kagoshima, and Mie — account for roughly 70% of the country's entire tea cultivation area.

In a historic shift documented by MAFF, Kagoshima Prefecture has now surpassed Shizuoka in aracha production volume for two consecutive fiscal years (2024 and 2025), producing 30,000 metric tons compared to Shizuoka's 24,100 metric tons. MAFF attributes this to Kagoshima's accelerated farm consolidation and diversified cultivar strategy — and notably, the prefecture is now Japan's #1 producer of tencha, the shade-grown leaf stone-ground into matcha.

Matcha Demand Is Driving Tencha Production to Record Highs

One of the most significant findings in MAFF's March 2026 report is the dramatic growth of tencha production — and what it reveals about the global matcha boom. Tencha (てん茶, tencha — the shade-covered, unrolled dried leaf that is stone-ground into matcha powder) has seen production increase approximately 2.7 times between fiscal year 2014 (Heisei 26) and fiscal year 2024 (Reiwa 6), reaching 5,336 metric tons. This is not a modest uptick — it is a near-tripling of output in a single decade, driven directly by surging global demand for matcha.

MAFF's data also reveals a significant shift in who is growing tencha. The top three tencha-producing prefectures in Japan are now Kagoshima, Kyoto, and Shizuoka — in that order. This is a notable departure from the traditional image of matcha. Kyoto Prefecture, home to the world-famous Uji tea-growing region, has historically been synonymous with premium matcha production. However, MAFF's official figures confirm that Kagoshima has now overtaken Kyoto as Japan's #1 tencha producer by volume, driven by its large-scale farm consolidation and favorable climate for shade cultivation.

For US matcha buyers, this ranking matters. It means an increasing share of the Japanese matcha entering the global supply chain — including the US market — originates from Kagoshima, not just Uji/Kyoto. Both origins produce high-quality matcha, but flavor profiles and price points differ. When sourcing Japanese matcha, knowing the prefecture of origin gives you a more complete picture of what you are buying.

Farm-Gate Prices: MAFF Data Confirms Tencha's Premium Value

MAFF's 2024 aracha price data highlights a significant pricing gap between tea types. Tencha averaged 3,278 JPY/kg — approximately 2.7 times the price of standard sencha (煎茶, sencha — the most common Japanese green tea, steamed, rolled, and dried) at 1,197 JPY/kg. First-flush tencha commanded the highest price at 3,891 JPY/kg, according to MAFF's official producer price survey.

MAFF's 2025 first-flush price data further shows notable year-over-year increases in both Kagoshima (up approximately 30%) and Shizuoka (up approximately 20%) compared to the prior year. For US buyers, this government-confirmed trend signals continued upward pressure on Japanese matcha input costs, particularly for high-grade ceremonial and first-harvest grades.

What This MAFF Data Means for US Matcha Importers

The trends documented in MAFF's official report reinforce several key realities for US café owners and foodservice buyers sourcing Japanese matcha:

• Kagoshima is now Japan's #1 tencha producer, per MAFF — making it a critical origin alongside Kyoto (Uji) in the matcha supply chain.
• Matcha supply is growing fast — MAFF data shows tencha production has nearly tripled over the past decade, reflecting the sustained strength of global matcha demand.
• But input costs are rising — farm-gate prices for tencha continue to climb, with first-flush grades seeing double-digit year-over-year increases in 2025.
• Farm consolidation is accelerating, which may improve supply consistency and logistics efficiency for bulk importers over time.
• Seasonal pricing differences are significant — MAFF's harvest data shows first-flush tencha is priced nearly 2x the annual average, directly explaining why ceremonial-grade matcha carries a premium price point.

Because this data comes directly from Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries — the official government authority on Japanese agricultural production — US buyers can rely on these figures as the most credible, unbiased benchmark available for understanding the Japanese matcha supply landscape. As global demand for Japanese matcha continues to grow, MAFF's reports remain one of the most valuable tools for making informed sourcing and procurement decisions.

Source:
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan (MAFF), Ocha wo Meguru Jōsei (Tea Industry Situation Report), March 2026.
URL: https://www.maff.go.jp/j/seisan/tokusan/cha/attach/pdf/ocha-156.pdf