We are thrilled to announce a new addition to our collection at the Liverpool Beatles Museum: a Japanese tea service bought by George Harrison during the height of Beatlemania. This exquisite set, one of three purchased by Harrison during the Beatles’ tour of Japan in 1966, is now on display in our 1963-1966 section, offering a fascinating glimpse into the lives of the Fab Four during one of their most frenzied periods.
In 1966, Beatlemania had reached Japan, and the Beatles found themselves confined to their hotel rooms, unable to venture out due to the overwhelming fan hysteria. Roag Best, who runs the Liverpool Beatles Museum and is the half-brother of original Beatles drummer Pete Best, explained that “Beatlemania had truly hit Japan and they couldn’t go out.” Despite being stuck indoors, the Beatles made the best of their situation by having local vendors bring their items to the hotel. It was during this time that Harrison acquired the tea sets.
The Beatles were in Japan to play at the iconic Budokan, performing five shows over three days, each to more than 10,000 fans. There were strict security measures in place – the boys had to don disguises to escape the hotel, or otherwise stay confined in their rooms. “They liked buying stuff when they were touring but because they couldn’t go out they were having people bringing their wares up to their rooms to sell,” Roag explained.
George ended up purchasing three ornate Japanese tea services, which he then had shipped back to England. He kept one for himself, gave another to Roag’s father, Neil Aspinall, who was the Beatles’ tour manager, and gifted the third to his own mother. The set given to Aspinall eventually found its way into the home of Mona Best, Roag’s mother, who owned the Casbah Club in West Derby, a significant venue in the Beatles’ early career.
Roag Best shares a personal story about the tea set: “It had not been a complete set since my mother asked me to clean it when I was 15. I carried it all very carefully through to the kitchen and washed it, but once I’d finished, I was in a rush to go and play out with my mates. I stacked it all on top of each other to carry it back in. My mum said to me, ‘Don’t take it back like that, you’ll drop it.’ I said, ‘No, I won’t,’ and as I uttered those words the pile buckled and three cups smashed on the floor. I just bolted out of the door then before she could kill me.”
Despite this mishap, the tea service remains a treasured artifact and is now proudly displayed at the Liverpool Beatles Museum. We invite you to visit and explore this unique piece of Beatles history, along with many other fascinating exhibits that chronicle the band’s extraordinary journey. The tea service not only reflects George Harrison’s appreciation for Japanese culture but also provides a tangible connection to a remarkable period in music history.