Kazuo Matsuoka
（Tsurugi town）

The Ono hamlet in Ichiu, Tsurugi, can be found upstream of the Sadamitsu River. Situated on mountain slopes at elevations of 500–600 m, the area is dotted with numerous tea fields.

Kazuo Matsuoka grows tea here and says that adding organic fertilizers such as cut grass and cow manure to the fields in autumn enhances the tea’s aroma.

Ono hamlet has a tea-processing facility operated by local residents that allows freshly harvested tea leaves to be processed immediately. This is another key factor in the production of high-quality teas.

Tea with a darker color after processing is a sign that the fertilizer has worked well, resulting in a deeper fragrance.

His tea is sold at the Roadside station Sadamitsu YuYu-kan in Tsurugi.