AgricultureAging, shrinking workforce leaves industry ill-equipped to fully tap global demandJapan's green tea exports by value were up 98% last year, reaching a record high. (Kenichi Shizen Nouen)MAO KATOFebruary 25, 2026 05:19 JSTTOKYO -- Japan's tea plantations struggling with a severe labor crunch cannot capitalize on record-high exports driven by the global matcha boom, with the harvesting area in major producing prefectures plunging 29% over a decade.Read NextFood & BeverageGlobal matcha craze causes shortages of tea leaves and machineryBig in AsiaKyoto tea farmers take global thirst for matcha in strideFood & BeverageJapan tea chain aims to be 'Starbucks of matcha' in global marketFood & BeverageShochu is Japan's sake and whisky chaser in new Kirin export driveAgriculture7-Eleven operator backs regenerative farming to secure coffee supplyFood & BeverageKyoto Distillery lands Japan's craft gin in international spotlightCompaniesJapan small town knives fascinate culinary artists from around the globeFood & BeverageMarked-up matcha: Kyoto vendors battle online scalpers, knockoffsLatest on AgricultureAgricultureJapan's farmed salmon taps into growing appetite at home and abroadAgricultureAsia's agri-tech startups offer answers to Iran war supply chain crunchAgricultureUS farmers warily welcome stabilization of trade with China