A report from our on-site tea ceremony at RIKEN, Kobe
We held an on-site tea ceremony at RIKEN in Kobe, giving researchers the chance to experience Japanese tea culture first-hand. The guests came from across Asia, Europe and many other parts of the world. Sharing a traditional Japanese moment with people who are leaders in their own fields was a special time for us, too.
A calm moment with tea
We set up the venue carefully in a quiet space inside the institute so that guests could feel a little of Japan's tradition. We used tables and chairs, so everyone could join comfortably, including guests from overseas. For many, it was their first time holding a chasen (bamboo whisk). Conversations started naturally — "Am I doing this right?" "Oh, so that's how you get nice foam!" — and the smiles in the room were wonderful to see.
A place for researchers to connect
The session began with a demonstration by our tea ceremony teacher. Each movement for preparing matcha was explained step by step, together with a short history of the tea ceremony and the state of mind it has long valued in Japan. Guests watched closely, clearly curious about the culture. Then, while enjoying seasonal wagashi (Japanese sweets), everyone used their own whisk and tea bowl to make matcha themselves.
Question time
We finished with time for questions to the teacher. "Why does matcha need foam?" "Which sweets go best with it?" — one interesting question followed another, and you could feel everyone's understanding of Japanese culture growing. It also got guests talking with each other, creating a relaxed, friendly atmosphere that flowed naturally into their dinner afterwards.
We heard comments and questions like "It was my first time whisking matcha myself — using the whisk was so much fun!", "How can I join a tea ceremony in Japan?" and "Where can I buy a traditional Japanese tea bowl?" Seeing people who work at the cutting edge of science enjoy a traditional Japanese practice brought us a new kind of joy.
Planning a conference, company event or welcome reception? See our on-site tea ceremony service.