Ashikaga Yoshimasa
Eisai also shared the tea seeds with his friend, Myoe Shonin, who started tea plantation in Uji. Uji tea was then rated as the second best tea in 1383. However, this ranking was being questioned in 1460 as a shogun named Ashikaga Yoshimasa asked, “Uji [tea] during this age has recently been the favourite brand [of the shogun]. Even though it has been said that Toganoo [tea] has declined [in favor], just as in the saying, its reputation has not changed. Should it not also be highly regarded and not forgotten?” With the support from Yoshimasa and his followers, Uji tea soon shared the top spot with Toganoo tea.