石川 界人

The world of black tea that will change the way you look at manga and anime. In this series, you can experience how to brew delicious black tea! Ishikawa: I thought I was just going to be taught how to brew black tea and learn manners. When you grow up, unless you are interested in the culture of other countries, there are not many opportunities to learn. This time, my teacher taught me about British culture and history along with the tea, so I wanted to find out more about it myself.

What sparked your interest in tea? Ishikawa: My cousin has various qualifications, such as vegetable sommelier and tea. Especially since I don’t think there are many smart men who can make tea. Besides, I thought that if I could make delicious tea, my family would be happy.

It’s nice that you want your family to be happy, not yourself. Ishikawa: I just want to make a triumphant look at the family (laughs). I’m satisfied if I can laugh “Huh” in my heart when they say “It’s delicious!”

How was the world of tea? Ishikawa: The mystery of the tea drinking scene and behaviour that often appear in manga and anime has been solved. For example, I was surprised to learn that in the UK, people can be classified according to the type of tea leaves, how they drink it, and how much it is, and that there are manners for how to pour tea and how to sit. It seems that it is a rule for upper-class aristocrats to have tea at a low table. If I had that kind of knowledge, I would be able to expand my range of expression through acting, so it was a learning experience. From the entrance called tea, it is active in the play.

Find something to do! Ishikawa: It’s a play that can be used not only for black tea, but for anything. Especially for my voice quality, I often play aristocratic characters. In otome games, I play the role of a prince or a mafia cap, so I would like to be able to perform voice acting that matches the character’s role. By learning about the culture, my admiration for the upper class grew stronger. For example, how do people who have learned manners since they can remember, and who are completely engraved in their souls, usually think. I am very grateful that it gave me the opportunity to develop such an interest and imagination.

Was there anything you found particularly difficult about brewing tea? Ishikawa: Tea leaves! It seems that the flavour of the tea is extracted by it. However, to make it, you must pour boiling water into the pot at an angle. This is difficult, partly because I have a fear of hot water. With more practise, you should be able to pour the hot water without splashing while keeping air in it, so it’s just a matter of practise. My teacher praised me for my beautiful posture when pouring tea into a cup. Thank you, but I want to be able to pour better and more beautifully. I would like to explore how to pour hot water and how to pour tea. It was so funny that I unintentionally became stoic. I’m sure that the fact that I was able to teach face-to-face with the teacher was a big factor. If you teach me face-to-face instead of looking at the internet or watching videos, you can objectively give me advice on even the slightest angle and posture, and you can answer questions in real time, so communication should be like this. I realized that a tea party is not just about enjoying tea, but about drinking tea.

It was a place to enjoy communication with each other. Once again, I felt the significance of the existence of the salon. The teacher was very surprised that Ishikawa-san knew the correct way to hold the teacup. Ishikawa: I’ve been taught by my mother not to put my fingers through the handle, but to hold it by pinching it. At first glance, it looks elegant, but it requires a lot of grip strength, so the effect of muscle training was surprisingly useful (laughs). To enjoy the tea ceremony gracefully, it is recommended to train the deltoid muscles.

How was the taste of the tea you brewed yourself? Ishikawa: It was very delicious. The black tea I brewed called Lapsang Souchong has a unique aroma because the tea leaves are smoked with pine leaves. When you smell the tea leaves, it smells exactly like Seiromaru (laughs). But when you drink it, the scent becomes addictive. I’m sure those who like incense will like it. My father used to burn incense at home, so I fell in love with this scent.

Well, it’s almost autumn, but what are you looking forward to this fall? Ishikawa: This year, I’m playing with professionals on my YouTube channel, so it’s more of a “Game Autumn” than last year. Otherwise, I would like to enjoy “Autumn of Appetite”. Thanks to muscle training, I’ve become a body whose weight doesn’t change no matter what I eat. I’ve been refraining from sweets for a long time, so I want to eat as much as I can this fall! I especially love Montblanc. I think there are many people who spend their days quite restless, but occasionally, it is recommended to take the time to brew and enjoy a cup of tea. The more you stick to the brewing method, the more you will have a wonderful time. I would like to start b clearing the papers on the table so that I can enjoy delicious tea and sweets (laughs).