Since 2016, ROCANIIRU has maintained an ongoing connection with Mr. Gao Ding-shi, internationally known as a leading figure in wild-grown tea, through tea journeys to Taiwan.

In recent years, wild tea has quietly gained attention in both China and Taiwan. Yet “wild” can mean many things—most tea farms today are designed for rational maintenance, arranged into manageable plots. In contrast, Mr. Gao’s tea fields prioritize natural ecosystems to such a degree that they resemble rugged mountains. This reflects his philosophy of leaving tea to nature, a practice he has maintained unwaveringly since the late 1980s.

In those mountains, tea trees coexist with a variety of other trees and plants, creating a rich and natural ecosystem. One must wade through thick vegetation to reach a single tea tree. The leaves from these few scattered trees are handpicked when the season is right and processed using a labor-intensive traditional method inherited from the continent.

When Mr. Gao enters the tea mountains, he shows the humble face of a tea farmer—carefully observing the ecosystem and living each day with tea. But once seated at the tea table, he transforms into a tea master, transmitting tea with soulful focus and sincerity.

I vividly remember the first time I drank his tea in his mountain tea room. With each steeping, the mountain’s vitality seemed to rise into form, gradually loosening body and mind, leading me into deep tranquility.

In early October, as autumn deepens, we are honored to welcome Tea Master Gao Ding-shi on his first visit to Japan, with support from the Cultural Promotion Network. Two events will be held in Hyogo and Kyoto, offering an opportunity to experience his unique world of tea.

From October 8 to 9, a two-day, one-night “Autumn Chinese Tea Gathering” will take place at DOKI ROKKO, located atop Mount Rokko.

This gathering goes beyond tea itself—Japanese chefs and musicians who share Gao’s spirit and tea-centered philosophy will also join, allowing guests to engage with tea more deeply through food and sound.

On October 12, a tea gathering with Gao Ding-shi will be held at the tea house “Kojitsukyo” in Okazaki, Kyoto.

We hope guests will have the chance to intimately engage with Gao’s tea, and enjoy the delicate, harmonious moments that unfold with each infusion.

We would be delighted if you could savor these fleeting tea moments in the deepening autumn. We look forward to welcoming you.