Dr. Hara attending "China Hunan Tea Culture Experts Symposium and Tea Expo".
Dr. Hara (Executive Managing Officer and Executive General Manager of R&D Unit Food Research Laboratories of Mistui Norin Co., Ltd.) was invited as an overseas guest speaker and attended this 3rd year symposium. Hunan province, with a population of 66 million, is located in the interior of China. Hunan is enriched with a good natural environment, especially in terms of water resources. Having a variable climate through the year, it is known not only for its prominent rice cultivation nationwide, but also as a distinguished tea production district as well as for Zhejiang province and Anhui province. The symposium was opened against such a background, wishing for the further development of "Hunan brand Tea". At the symposium, tea gathered attention from various quarters, such as the scientific, technical and cultural. In front of a 200-strong audience, a total of six speakers (five from China and Dr. Hara from Japan) made presentations. The five domestic speakers are all leading and renowned tea researchers at universities and other organizations. Dr. Hara, being known as a pioneer of tea catechins research in the world, gave a lecture on the possibility of realizing tea catechins for its medical properties by utilizing its disease prevention and treatment functions. For a long time, the health functions of tea have been reported like "episodes", but the story of an ongoing attempt to prove this with medical evidence so that it will be approved as a medical first stimulated much interest and brought out inquiries from the audience. Although it was held on a rainy day, the symposium could close successfully with enthusiastic support from audience, who were all hoping for the expansion of the tea industry. |
