Japan's First Public-Private Joint Development: Applications Filed for New Tea Varieties 'Sai no Megami' and 'Sai no Ito'
Ito En, Ltd. and the Saitama Prefectural Tea Institute have jointly developed and filed for the registration of two new tea varieties, 'Sai no Megami' and 'Sai no Ito.' This marks the first tea breeding collaboration between a local government research institute and a private beverage manufacturer in Japan, aiming for sustainable development in the tea industry.
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- 📰 Published: April 28, 2026 at 20:00
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Ito En, Ltd. (President: Daisuke Honjo; Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo), in collaboration with the Saitama Prefectural Tea Institute, has applied for the registration of two new tea varieties, 'Sai no Megami' and 'Sai no Ito,' on December 19, 2025. This initiative is Japan's first public-private partnership in tea breeding between a local public experimental research institute and a private beverage manufacturer. These new varieties were developed based on breeding and cultivation knowledge cultivated in the Sayama tea-producing region of Saitama Prefecture. Ito En participated in the evaluation of these varieties from a practical perspective, looking ahead to future tea production and contributing to the sustainable development of the tea industry.
In recent years, the environment surrounding tea production has faced many challenges, including labor shortages, declining production, changes in weather conditions, and increased risk of pests and diseases. In particular, the concentration of harvesting periods due to a bias in variety composition and the instability of production have become common challenges for both production sites and the market.
The Saitama Prefectural Tea Institute has long conducted breeding with an emphasis on cold climate adaptability and quality stability in the context of Sayama tea production. However, the dissemination and increased recognition of developed varieties remained a challenge. For Ito En, the choices of varieties usable in contract cultivation sites nationwide were limited, there were few late-harvest varieties with disease resistance, and original breeding required a long period of time. Addressing these mutual challenges, Ito En joined the project at the selection stage from among the lines that began crossing in 1993 at the Saitama Prefectural Tea Institute, and full-scale joint verification began in 2021.
In this project, Ito En was mainly responsible for evaluating quality for beverage and export raw materials, as well as evaluating regional adaptability in multiple regions, conducting verification from the perspective of actual production and processing. By combining breeding expertise with market evaluation perspectives, the project advanced the cultivation of varieties with the potential for wide dissemination without being limited to specific regions or uses.
Moving forward, the two new varieties will be promoted primarily among Ito En's contract farmers and farmers within Saitama Prefecture, with the aim of gradually expanding to tea-producing regions nationwide. This public-private joint variety breeding is a good example of the administration and the private sector leveraging their respective strengths to build a foundation for the future of the tea industry.
Overview of the New Varieties
Ito En joined the project in 2021 when several promising lines were selected from individuals crossed between 1989 and 1997 at the Saitama Prefectural Tea Institute, and full-scale joint variety breeding began. Both varieties are late-harvest types, characterized by a later harvesting period compared to major varieties currently widely cultivated. As Ito En procures raw materials through contract cultivation, it can utilize these varieties while considering the characteristics and harvesting time differences or dispersion of each production area.
Sai no Megami
Origin of Name: Named after the joint development between Saitama Prefecture ('Sai' Province), where it was bred, and Ito En's production base (Makinohara, Shizuoka, 'Megami' or Goddess).
Characteristics: Extremely late-harvest with high yield, deep green color, and a mellow taste. It is highly suitable for green tea beverages and is expected to contribute to ensuring production stability by dispersing harvesting periods.
Sai no Ito
Origin of Name: Represents the breeding site Saitama ('Sai') and part of Ito En's company name ('Ito' or Thread), named as it was spun together through new colorful challenges from both parties.
Characteristics: Late-harvest with high resistance to pests and diseases, suitable for organic cultivation. It is positioned as a variety for future exports and is expected to be utilized in a wide range of applications.
Division of Roles
Saitama Prefectural Tea Institute: Breeding and selection, quality evaluation for sencha.
Ito En, Ltd.: Evaluation of regional adaptability, quality evaluation for beverages.
Future Development
Since the number of saplings is currently limited, they will be supplied primarily to Ito En's contract farmers and farmers in Saitama Prefecture. Ito En aims to use these as part of the raw materials for 'Oi Ocha' brand products and will consider expanding the cultivation area in stages. Variety registration is expected several years after the application.
In recent years, the environment surrounding tea production has faced many challenges, including labor shortages, declining production, changes in weather conditions, and increased risk of pests and diseases. In particular, the concentration of harvesting periods due to a bias in variety composition and the instability of production have become common challenges for both production sites and the market.
The Saitama Prefectural Tea Institute has long conducted breeding with an emphasis on cold climate adaptability and quality stability in the context of Sayama tea production. However, the dissemination and increased recognition of developed varieties remained a challenge. For Ito En, the choices of varieties usable in contract cultivation sites nationwide were limited, there were few late-harvest varieties with disease resistance, and original breeding required a long period of time. Addressing these mutual challenges, Ito En joined the project at the selection stage from among the lines that began crossing in 1993 at the Saitama Prefectural Tea Institute, and full-scale joint verification began in 2021.
In this project, Ito En was mainly responsible for evaluating quality for beverage and export raw materials, as well as evaluating regional adaptability in multiple regions, conducting verification from the perspective of actual production and processing. By combining breeding expertise with market evaluation perspectives, the project advanced the cultivation of varieties with the potential for wide dissemination without being limited to specific regions or uses.
Moving forward, the two new varieties will be promoted primarily among Ito En's contract farmers and farmers within Saitama Prefecture, with the aim of gradually expanding to tea-producing regions nationwide. This public-private joint variety breeding is a good example of the administration and the private sector leveraging their respective strengths to build a foundation for the future of the tea industry.
Overview of the New Varieties
Ito En joined the project in 2021 when several promising lines were selected from individuals crossed between 1989 and 1997 at the Saitama Prefectural Tea Institute, and full-scale joint variety breeding began. Both varieties are late-harvest types, characterized by a later harvesting period compared to major varieties currently widely cultivated. As Ito En procures raw materials through contract cultivation, it can utilize these varieties while considering the characteristics and harvesting time differences or dispersion of each production area.
Sai no Megami
Origin of Name: Named after the joint development between Saitama Prefecture ('Sai' Province), where it was bred, and Ito En's production base (Makinohara, Shizuoka, 'Megami' or Goddess).
Characteristics: Extremely late-harvest with high yield, deep green color, and a mellow taste. It is highly suitable for green tea beverages and is expected to contribute to ensuring production stability by dispersing harvesting periods.
Sai no Ito
Origin of Name: Represents the breeding site Saitama ('Sai') and part of Ito En's company name ('Ito' or Thread), named as it was spun together through new colorful challenges from both parties.
Characteristics: Late-harvest with high resistance to pests and diseases, suitable for organic cultivation. It is positioned as a variety for future exports and is expected to be utilized in a wide range of applications.
Division of Roles
Saitama Prefectural Tea Institute: Breeding and selection, quality evaluation for sencha.
Ito En, Ltd.: Evaluation of regional adaptability, quality evaluation for beverages.
Future Development
Since the number of saplings is currently limited, they will be supplied primarily to Ito En's contract farmers and farmers in Saitama Prefecture. Ito En aims to use these as part of the raw materials for 'Oi Ocha' brand products and will consider expanding the cultivation area in stages. Variety registration is expected several years after the application.