Tsushima is an archipelago of one hundred large and small tight-knit islands halfway between Kyushu, Japan, and Busan, South Korea. Despite its small population of 30,000 and its remote location, Tsushima has a beautiful and varied geography of forest and coast, unique wildlife, deep history, and an ecosystem based on sustainability. The Tsushima horse, a sturdy pony, is the island’s mascot. The mountain cat has its own museum.

In 2018, after training under his father for decades, Yujiro Oishi, the second generation, began leading the family’s farming and tea making. Instead of changing to green tea or matcha making, Oishi-san committed himself and his company to the exclusive production of “koucha,” Japanese black tea. The only cultivar they grow is “bennifuki,” which is known for its complexity and aroma.