[Sayama City, Saitama Prefecture] Limited Event on May 7th & 8th, 2026! Enjoy Sayama New Tea Hospitality at City Hall, Featuring Original Landscape Paintings of Sayama Tea by Children's Picture Artist Shoji Ikehara
Sayama City, Saitama Prefecture, will host a free Sayama new tea reception event at the city hall on May 7th and 8th, 2026. In cooperation with the City Tea Industry Association, the event aims to expand new tea consumption and will also feature an exhibition of original landscape paintings of Sayama tea by children's picture artist Shoji Ikehara.
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### Sayama City Hall New Tea Service
In Sayama City, every year during the new tea season, a free tea service is held at the city hall, allowing citizens to enjoy new tea early. This initiative, carried out with the cooperation of the Sayama City Tea Industry Association, aims to expand the consumption of locally produced Sayama tea. It has become a popular event, with many citizens eagerly looking forward to tasting the new tea ahead of time. The tea used here was sold at the Sayama New Tea Festival held on Wednesday, April 29th.
On the day of the event, newly appointed Sayama City officials will welcome visitors with Sayama new tea.
*Tea leaves (raw leaves) used*
### Exhibition of Original Drawings of Sayama Tea Landscapes by Shoji Ikehara
From "Landscapes of Sayama I Want to Preserve" to "Sayama Tea"
This time, to further enhance enjoyment of Sayama's new tea season, original drawings of tea-related paintings from "Landscapes of Sayama I Want to Preserve," which were featured in Koho Sayama from April 2012 to July 2020, will be exhibited. These works, depicting 100 scenes of Sayama City that Shoji Ikehara, a children's picture artist residing in the city, wishes to pass down to future generations, offer a transparent view of Sayama's landscapes.
On the day, please enjoy the aroma and taste of new tea along with the clear landscapes of Sayama.
*Sayama Tea – Inherited Techniques and Tradition*
https://www.city.sayama.saitama.jp/kankou/sayamacha/index.html
*Tea processing on April 26th*
*Please note: New tea will not be sold at the event. Please purchase new tea at tea shops within Sayama City.
### Date and Time
Thursday, May 7th, 2026, and Friday, May 8th, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
### Location
Sayama City Hall (1-23-5 Irumagawa, Sayama City) 1st Floor Entrance Hall.
*Parking available, but limited spaces.
### Nearest Station
Seibu Shinjuku Line, Sayama City Station, about 10 minutes walk from the West Exit.
### Contents
*Free tea service
*Exhibition of 7 original drawings by Shoji Ikehara from "Landscapes of Sayama I Want to Preserve," including "Sayama Tea Field" and "Sayama, the City of Tea Fragrance."
### Shoji Ikehara Profile
Born in Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture, and residing in Sayama City, Saitama Prefecture, he is a children's picture artist. He has traveled across Japan, visiting folk tales, and established his unique painting style called "Dowa" (童絵). He is a member of the Japan Cartoonists Association, a visiting professor at Takamatsu University Junior College in Kagawa Prefecture, a Sayama City Tourism Ambassador, and a Koedo Kawagoe Ambassador. In the past, he served as director, animator, and art director for the TV program "Manga Nihon Mukashibanashi" and also worked on image posters for the Environment Agency (now the Ministry of the Environment).
Currently, he is serializing "Sayama no Mukashibanashi" in the monthly Koho Sayama since September 2020. "Landscapes of Sayama I Want to Preserve" was serialized in Koho Sayama from April 2012 to July 2020, comprising a total of 100 works.
*Shoji Ikehara*
*Shoji Ikehara's "Sayama Tea Field" from "Landscapes of Sayama I Want to Preserve" and the cover of the "Landscapes of Sayama I Want to Preserve" booklet*
Landscapes of Sayama I Want to Preserve:
https://www.city.sayama.saitama.jp/shisei/kouhou/koho/sayamanofuukei/index.html
### Sayama City Hall New Tea Service
In Sayama City, every year during the new tea season, a free tea service is held at the city hall, allowing citizens to enjoy new tea early. This initiative, carried out with the cooperation of the Sayama City Tea Industry Association, aims to expand the consumption of locally produced Sayama tea. It has become a popular event, with many citizens eagerly looking forward to tasting the new tea ahead of time. The tea used here was sold at the Sayama New Tea Festival held on Wednesday, April 29th.
On the day of the event, newly appointed Sayama City officials will welcome visitors with Sayama new tea.
*Tea leaves (raw leaves) used*
### Exhibition of Original Drawings of Sayama Tea Landscapes by Shoji Ikehara
From "Landscapes of Sayama I Want to Preserve" to "Sayama Tea"
This time, to further enhance enjoyment of Sayama's new tea season, original drawings of tea-related paintings from "Landscapes of Sayama I Want to Preserve," which were featured in Koho Sayama from April 2012 to July 2020, will be exhibited. These works, depicting 100 scenes of Sayama City that Shoji Ikehara, a children's picture artist residing in the city, wishes to pass down to future generations, offer a transparent view of Sayama's landscapes.
On the day, please enjoy the aroma and taste of new tea along with the clear landscapes of Sayama.
*Sayama Tea – Inherited Techniques and Tradition*
https://www.city.sayama.saitama.jp/kankou/sayamacha/index.html
*Tea processing on April 26th*
*Please note: New tea will not be sold at the event. Please purchase new tea at tea shops within Sayama City.
### Date and Time
Thursday, May 7th, 2026, and Friday, May 8th, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
### Location
Sayama City Hall (1-23-5 Irumagawa, Sayama City) 1st Floor Entrance Hall.
*Parking available, but limited spaces.
### Nearest Station
Seibu Shinjuku Line, Sayama City Station, about 10 minutes walk from the West Exit.
### Contents
*Free tea service
*Exhibition of 7 original drawings by Shoji Ikehara from "Landscapes of Sayama I Want to Preserve," including "Sayama Tea Field" and "Sayama, the City of Tea Fragrance."
### Shoji Ikehara Profile
Born in Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture, and residing in Sayama City, Saitama Prefecture, he is a children's picture artist. He has traveled across Japan, visiting folk tales, and established his unique painting style called "Dowa" (童絵). He is a member of the Japan Cartoonists Association, a visiting professor at Takamatsu University Junior College in Kagawa Prefecture, a Sayama City Tourism Ambassador, and a Koedo Kawagoe Ambassador. In the past, he served as director, animator, and art director for the TV program "Manga Nihon Mukashibanashi" and also worked on image posters for the Environment Agency (now the Ministry of the Environment).
Currently, he is serializing "Sayama no Mukashibanashi" in the monthly Koho Sayama since September 2020. "Landscapes of Sayama I Want to Preserve" was serialized in Koho Sayama from April 2012 to July 2020, comprising a total of 100 works.
*Shoji Ikehara*
*Shoji Ikehara's "Sayama Tea Field" from "Landscapes of Sayama I Want to Preserve" and the cover of the "Landscapes of Sayama I Want to Preserve" booklet*
Landscapes of Sayama I Want to Preserve:
https://www.city.sayama.saitama.jp/shisei/kouhou/koho/sayamanofuukei/index.html