In Japan，tea leaf picking typically begins on the 88th day from the first day of spring based on the lunar calendar. The first spring day fa11s around February 4，Which puts the 88th day in early May. The 88th day，traditionally called “hachijyu-hachiya” in Japanese，corresponds with germination periods here when leaves are soft, in good quality and are especial1y tasty. It is said that drinking tea picked on the 88th day fends off diseases for the following year.
(The photograph shows tea leaf picking in progress in Uji near Kyoto.）