Palette伊勢茶プロジェクト　「緑茶の利用と機能性」講演会を開催 / Palette Ise Tea Project: Lecture Series on "The Uses and Functional Benefits of Green Tea"

2026年から始まったPalette伊勢茶プロジェクトの一環として、元太陽化学㈱ニュートリション事業部 研究開発部 参事の大久保 勉氏をお迎えし、「緑茶の利用と機能性」と題して、7月8日（水）には前編「緑茶の利用」、7月28日（火）には後編「緑茶の機能」をテーマに、ご講演いただきました。
As part of the Palette Ise Cha Project, launched in 2026, we welcomed Mr. Tsutomu Okubo, former Senior Researcher in the Research and Development Department of the Nutrition Division at Taiyo Kagaku Co., Ltd., to give a two-part lecture series entitled "The Uses and Functional Benefits of Green Tea." The first lecture, "The Uses of Green Tea," was held on Wednesday, July 8, followed by the second lecture, "The Functions of Green Tea," on Tuesday, July 28.

大久保氏は40年にわたりお茶の研究に携わってこられました。講演では、飲み物としてだけでなく、お茶が持つ多面的な機能について、基本的な知識からわかりやすくご講演をいただき、参加者は日頃身近に親しんでいる「お茶」の凄さに気づくことができました。
Mr. Okubo has been engaged in tea research for 40 years. In his lectures, he provided easy-to-understand explanations of the diverse functions of tea, going beyond its role as a beverage and covering topics ranging from basic knowledge to more specialized areas. Through the lectures, participants gained a deeper appreciation of the remarkable qualities of the tea they enjoy in their everyday lives.

7月8日の前編では、日本と世界のお茶について、作り方から飲み方まで様々な観点で理解を深めました。中でも参加者が特に驚いたのは、まさに「万能薬」ともいえる茶カテキンの存在でした。人の健康や成長に及ぼす作用に加え、製品の変色を防ぐ働きや酸化防止剤としての利用、さらに海外では薬としても使われることなど、参加した学生は質疑応答を通して理解を深めました。
In the first lecture on July 8, participants learned about tea in Japan and around the world from various perspectives, including how tea is produced and how it is consumed. One of the most surprising topics for the participants was the presence of tea catechins, which can be considered almost a "wonder drug" in terms of their diverse functions. In addition to their effects on human health and growth, Mr. Okubo introduced their use in preventing discoloration of products and as antioxidants, as well as their use as medicines in some countries. The participating students deepened their understanding of these functions through the lecture and the subsequent Q&A session.

7月28日の後編では、まず、日本固有の農産物が海外へ流出する中で、「日本茶」の保護やブランド力の確立に向けた取り組みについて情報提供がありました。7月10日に農林水産省によるGI（地理的表示）登録が行われたことに触れられ、良質な農作物や食品はすぐに模倣され海外へ広がることもある中、世界的な抹茶ブームが続く現在、「伊勢茶」に注目するこのプロジェクトにとっても、大変重要な情報をとなりました。
In the second lecture on July 28, Mr. Okubo first provided information on efforts to protect Japanese tea and establish its brand value amid the increasing overseas distribution of agricultural products unique to Japan. He also introduced the registration of Japanese tea under the GI (Geographical Indication) system by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries on July 10. In an era when high-quality agricultural products and foods can be quickly imitated and distributed overseas, this was particularly important information for the project, which focuses on Ise Tea, especially amid the current global matcha boom.

続いて、日本にお茶が広まった歴史的背景や、緑茶の主成分についてご紹介いただきました。特にカテキンについては、機能性が高いEGCgの抽出方法をはじめ、オーラルケアやスキンケアへの活用、COVID-19、腸内細菌への影響など、さまざまな分野における研究成果が紹介されました。
さらに、「伊勢茶」の特徴である「かぶせ茶」に関しては、テアニンを多く含む特性を持ち、テアニンの摂取が脳の神経伝達に及ぼす影響についても学びました。質疑応答では、お茶とアスリートの疲労回復や精神的な安定に関する研究事例や、抹茶が「スーパーフード」として注目を集めている最新研究の事例も紹介されました。
The lecture then covered the historical background of how tea spread throughout Japan and the major components of green tea. Regarding catechins, Mr. Okubo introduced methods for extracting EGCg, a catechin with particularly high functional properties, as well as research findings on its applications in oral and skincare products and its potential effects related to COVID-19 and gut microbiota.
Participants also learned about kabusecha, one of the distinctive types of Ise Tea, which contains a relatively high level of theanine, and about the effects of theanine intake on neural signaling in the brain. During the Q&A session, Mr. Okubo also introduced research on tea and its potential effects on athletes, including fatigue recovery and mental well-being, as well as recent research on matcha, which has been attracting attention as a "superfood."

これら緑茶の機能に関する紹介のほか、多様な団体によるお茶の普及活動の事例や、お茶を身近に感じる体験施設についても数多くご紹介いただきました。
「伊勢茶」のブランドを高め、維持するためには、生産者から消費者まで、さまざまな立場の人がどのようにお茶に関心をもって接していくかが重要であり、今後のプロジェクトの活動を考える上でも重要な情報となりました。
In addition to the functions of green tea, Mr. Okubo introduced numerous examples of tea-promotion activities conducted by various organizations, as well as facilities where people can experience and learn more about tea firsthand.
To enhance and maintain the brand of Ise Tea, it is important for everyone involved, from producers to consumers, to develop an interest in tea and consider how they can engage with it. The information provided during the lectures offered valuable insights for considering the future activities of the Palette Ise Tea Project.

今回の2回にわたる講演から、緑茶の作り方や効能、現在の利用用途や需要など、専門的な内容を含めながら、基礎的な知識からニッチな研究分野まで幅広く学ぶことができました。
大久保氏は講演を通して、お茶の魅力を伝えるためにはエビデンスを基にした発信が重要であると繰り返されていました。また、世界的なブームとなっている抹茶についても、ストレス軽減などの効果が証明されたテアニンが豊富であり、スーパードリンクと呼ばれる所以となったことなど、さまざまな研究事例についてご紹介いただき、参加者は興味深く耳を傾けました。
Through the two-part lecture series, participants were able to learn about a wide range of topics, including how green tea is produced, its health benefits, its current applications, and market demand. The lectures covered everything from fundamental knowledge to highly specialized and niche research areas.
Throughout the lectures, Mr. Okubo repeatedly emphasized the importance of communicating the appeal of tea based on scientific evidence. He also introduced various research findings on the global matcha boom, including the fact that matcha is rich in theanine, which has been shown to have effects such as stress reduction, contributing to its reputation as a "super drink." Participants listened with great interest to these diverse research findings.

成分や機能の面から見ても、緑茶には大きな可能性があります。一方で、どのようなストーリー性でその魅力を人々の心に訴えていくかも重要です。「伊勢茶」の魅力や価値を高めることは簡単ではないですが、多くの示唆を得る貴重な機会となりました。
From the perspective of its components and functions, green tea has enormous potential. At the same time, it is also important to consider how to communicate its appeal and value in a compelling way and create a story that resonates with people. While enhancing the appeal and value of Ise Tea is no easy task, the lectures provided valuable insights and an important opportunity to consider how the project can further promote Ise Tea.

2回の講演会には、留学生10名を含む延べ20名の学生が参加しました。大久保氏の講演を通じて、学生たちは、伊勢茶への関心をさらに高め、今後のPalette伊勢茶プロジェクトの活動に向けて、新たな視点を得ることができました。
A total of 20 students, including 10 international students, participated in the two lectures. Through Mr. Okubo's lectures, the students deepened their knowledge of tea, further developed their interest in Ise Tea, and gained new perspectives for the future activities of the Palette Ise Cha Project.