Otani Kahei

• Born: 1845
• Died: 1933
• Japanese: 大谷嘉兵衛 (Ootani Kahei)

Ôtani Kahei was a prominent figure in the Meiji period export tea trade, and the head of the Japanese exhibits at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair.

Originally a tea farmer based in Shizuoka prefecture, Ôtani later became an intermediary, buying tea from farmers to sell to exporters. He also played a role in the production of labels for the large shipping crates for the tea; these labels were originally designed and produced as woodblock prints.

Ôtani later became the head of the Tea Exporters' Association.

References

• Robert Hellyer, "Japanese Tea as an American Beverage: From the Meiji Restoration to Today," Ishibashi Foundation Lecture Series, Kyushu National Museum, 27 May 2017.[1]