Tea tree as a fence

If you travel to Shizuoka or Kagoshima, you could look over the big space of tea fields. However, even out side of those famous tea producing region, you can also see tea trees in many places in Japan. People in Japan often plant tea trees as a fence. In Kantou area, you hear the word "Kunecha" often. "Kune" means fence, and "Cha" means tea. Kunecha (tea trees fence) is often used as a borders between the road and the firm. Since tea trees are ever greens, remaining healthy and green throughout the year, they stand out against their surrounding environment. This means that tea trees can be recognized by all as boundary markers. There was a record that tea firms existed in north Kanto area in early Edo era. The record says "Tea firm 1.8 m" and it seems to be that tea firm was also a subject for tax. Tea are a stable, dense tree with strong roots and thus can prevent erosion and landslides. In West Japan, people are known to intentionally plant tea trees on the hill sides in this very reason.

(Youichiro Nakamura)