Kagoshima Tea Tops Japan's Production for Second Straight Year — French TV Spotlights Chiran Matcha

Kagoshima Prefecture has claimed the top spot in Japanese tea production for two consecutive years — and the world is paying attention. In early April 2026, a crew from French national public television visited Minami-Kyushu City in Kagoshima to film a feature on Chiran tea (知覧茶, Chiran-cha), one of Japan's most prized matcha-producing regions.

French Media Discovers the Beauty of Chiran's Matcha Fields

The French delegation included a television director, a tea specialist, and tea industry professionals. Tea expert Jérémy described his first visit to Kagoshima with enthusiasm: "It's my first time in Kagoshima, but the views — Mount Kaimondake and the matcha fields — are beautiful. It's a special landscape."

The team toured a tea processing factory in Minami-Kyushu City, experiencing firsthand the aroma and flavor of authentic Chiran matcha. According to the city, overseas media crews have visited multiple times over the years to cover Chiran tea — a testament to the region's growing international reputation.

What Is Chiran Tea (知覧茶)?

Chiran tea (知覧茶) is a green tea grown in Minami-Kyushu City, Kagoshima Prefecture, in the southern tip of Kyushu island. The region's warm climate, volcanic soil, and high humidity create ideal growing conditions for both sencha (steamed green tea) and tencha — the shade-grown leaf used to produce matcha. Chiran has become one of Japan's leading matcha-producing areas, and its teas are increasingly exported to cafés and food businesses worldwide.

Kagoshima: Japan's #1 Tea-Producing Prefecture

Kagoshima, known locally as Kagoshima-cha (かごしま茶), has now ranked as Japan's highest-volume tea producer for two years running. This achievement reflects decades of investment in large-scale tea cultivation across the region. For US importers and café buyers, this means a reliable, high-volume supply of quality Japanese matcha from a single prefecture — with traceable origin and established processing infrastructure.

The Global Matcha Boom Is Driving Demand

In France, matcha is predominantly consumed as matcha lattes and has become especially popular among younger consumers. Recently, however, traditional Japanese wagashi (confectionery) shops have begun entering the French market — broadening matcha's appeal across all age groups.

This trend mirrors what US café and food service operators are already experiencing: matcha is no longer a niche product. It has earned its place as a mainstream menu item, from specialty coffee shops to fast-casual chains. The global attention that Kagoshima and Chiran tea are receiving from European media reinforces the category's momentum and the long-term value of sourcing authentic Japanese matcha.

What This Means for US Matcha Buyers

For café owners, restaurant buyers, and matcha importers in the United States, Kagoshima's continued dominance in Japanese tea production — combined with growing international media coverage — signals a maturing, globally connected supply chain. The brand manager of Chiran tea, Takuma Kubo, noted that inquiries are coming from countries around the world: "We receive coverage requests from many countries. We want to convey not just the product, but the story behind it — the dedication of the people who grow and produce it."

Origin story, terroir, and producer identity are increasingly important to US buyers and their end customers. Chiran matcha, with its scenic volcanic landscape backdrop and two-year production record, offers exactly that kind of compelling sourcing narrative.

Source: KYT Kagoshima Yomiuri Television via Yahoo! Japan News, April 7, 2026
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/ed2b36fd65d3ed31125f1424a591030fb4bdb622