A coloring page of a May scene where women in sedge hats (sugegasa) pick tea leaves in a lush green tea field.
This seasonal picture is set around Hachiju-hachiya (the 88th night counted from the first day of spring, in early May), with the mountain range in the background and the sweeping tea fields drawn in careful detail.
It is perfect for recreation at care facilities or for hobby time. Free to download and print.
🗣 Conversation Starters — for care activities and family time
“Have you ever picked tea? Where did you do it?”
“♪ Summer is drawing near, on the 88th night… Do you know this song?”
“Do you drink tea often? Do you have a favorite kind of tea?”
“Have you ever had tea from Shizuoka or Kagoshima?”
🍵 What kind of day is Hachiju-hachiya?
Hachiju-hachiya is the 88th day counted from Risshun (the first day of spring, around February 4), falling around May 2 each year. It is regarded as an important seasonal marker in farming, and the “first flush” tea picked at this time is considered the highest quality among new teas. There is even an old saying that drinking tea picked on this day brings long life.
🗾 Where are the famous tea-growing regions?
Japan’s leading tea region is Shizuoka Prefecture, which accounts for roughly 40% of national production. Kagoshima Prefecture has grown rapidly in recent years, with brands such as Chiran tea and Kirishima tea known nationwide. Mie (Ise tea), Kyoto (Uji tea), and Fukuoka (Yame tea) are also famous for high-quality tea.
👒 What is a sedge hat (sugegasa)?
A sugegasa is a traditional wide-brimmed Japanese hat woven from the leaves of the sedge plant. It has long been used as protection from sun and rain during farm work and travel. As the trademark of the tea-picking girls, it is still worn today at tea-picking experience events.
🎨 Any tips for coloring this tea-picking picture?
Using several greens for the tea field — yellow-green, light green, and deep green — creates a sense of depth. Keeping the kimono in blues and indigo gives a unified, Japanese-style finish. Blending the sky from pale blue toward white near the horizon brings out the fresh feel of May.
🎵 What is the tea-picking song?
“Chatsumi” (Tea Picking), which opens with the line “Summer is drawing near, on the 88th night…,” is a Japanese school song written in the Meiji era. It has been sung in elementary-school music classes and enjoyed as a hand-clapping game. Vividly depicting people working in the tea fields, it is one of the songs that represent spring in Japan.
