We have all heard of Contemporary Japan’s mass cultural phenomena of karaoke, manga, and pachinko, which have all achieved global popularity. Originating in post-war Japan, these pastimes continue to make a significant cultural impact around the world. Despite their huge successes, they are not in the same league as Old Japan’s cultural arts of kōdō…
While the production of matcha green tea is a demanding and laborious task, tea makers from Uji, a small city about a 20-minute train ride from Kyoto, have mastered the technique and methods of cultivation to produce the best green tea in the world. Uji is also blessed to have the highest quality green tea…
Why Host a Japanese Tea Ceremony at Home? Many of us live a hectic lifestyle and often work in stressful environments. While we may enjoy the work that we do, at times we need to take a break and find moments of peace. A Japanese tea ceremony is one way to refocus the mind and…
Yunomi: A Tea Cup Without a Handle If the idea of a teacup without a handle baffles you, you’re not alone. For many Westerners, it might be similar to the first time you saw chopsticks and wondered how they were used. For centuries, the Chinese have brewed and served tea in a handle-less teacup or…
Tokyo, like any mega metropolis, is a myriad of electronic billboards and maddening traffic, yet still manages to stay efficient in spite of the chaos. You may think that to experience the authentic ‘old Japan’ your best bet would be to travel outside of Tokyo, but that doesn’t have to be the case! One of…
If you are looking for a simple routine to lose weight and detox, then matcha green tea could very well be the answer you are looking for. You may have noticed that in recent years matcha green tea has become an ‘it’ drink. It has become popular not only in the West, but also in…