Hello how are you?
I would like to introduce a professional artisan who has honed their skills in Japan and is considered to be more skilled than many Japanese craftsmen.
This person is Mr. Oscar Brekell, a Sweden-born Japanese tea evangelist or missionary who is said to have blue eyes.
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Who do you think a non-native missionary and instructor for Ocha ?
If so, it is embarrassing for me as a Japanese who does not know much about it, actually.
Non-native Japanese tea instructor? that’s Mr. Oscar Brekell, born in Sweden in 1985 and when he was a high-school days, he has interested in Japanese tea accidentally.
When he had the tea, Ocha for the first time, however, he felt “unpleasant taste and exceedingly bitter and sharp astringent.
But in drinking and drinking repeatedly, he has started growing to love it and that prompted him to come to Japan in order to learn green tea.
He learned how to make tea from picking tea leaves to brewing at the tea manufacture in Shizuoka prefecture where is well-known as one of main tea producing areas in Japan.
In 2010 he came to Japan to enter a university and got a job of Japanese company in 2013 after graduation of the university.
And in 2014 he passed an exam for a qualified tea instructor and in 2016 he passed another exam of tea rolled by hand over a dryer.
He is now a member of the Export Promotion council for Japanese Tea, the name of which implies that he’s engaged busily in promotional, educational activities for Japanese green tea not only in Japan but also in Sweden.
A Unique Story of Entrepreneurship in Japan
In 2008, Per Oscar Brekell (individual member of the SCCJ) began the journey of turning his passion for Japanese tea into a career.
Today, Brekell is a well-known face in the world of Japanese tea, appearing multiple times on Japanese national television and publishing several books on the subject.
Recently, Brekell published his 5th book, titled ‘A beginner’s Guide to Japanese Tea’ (available on Amazon), containing a comprehensive introduction to the world of Japanese tea.
A while back, the SCCJ checked in with Brekell to hear his story and find out more about entrepreneurship in Japan, from the perspective of a Swede.
Brekell decided to pursue his dream after a friend pointed out the possibility to him.
“When I was visited by a Japanese friend of mine, who came to Malmö and saw my kitchen full of Japanese tea pots and complete set of equipment, he said to me that ‘… if you like tea this much you should become a Japanese tea instructor’. …
When I found out there was a [tea instructor] certificate, I thought ‘yes, this is what I’m going to do’,” Brekell reminisced.
While often mixed up with someone who leads tea ceremonies, a Japanese tea instructor is more like a sommelier for wine, or a barista for coffee.
After starting his career working for the Japan Tea Export Council, Brekell built a business of lecturing and hosting events where he teaches participants about Japanese tea and offers a tasting experience.
He also offers a line of single origin Sencha (a type of Japanese tea) through his tea brand Senchaism.
While the core of Brekell’s business is still events and lecturing, the goal is to grow his tea brand and let more people, both internationally and in Japan, enjoy great Japanese tea.
“If my brand can act as a springboard [for spreading Japanese tea internationally], that’s fantastic,” said Brekell.
Please enjoy his tea missionary life on video,
Finally, I look forward to his future activities as Japanese tea missionary of nutritional befefits of tea, utilizing his passion and accumulated knowledge.
We have another blog about Japanese tea, “Types and Nutritional Benefits of Tea: Exploring the Health Effects of Tea” for which is well worth a browse, thanks
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