MY STORY
More than twenty years ago, matcha was still widely seen as something reserved for tea practitioners. At the time, I was working as a lighting designer in New York. One day, hoping to bring a small moment of joy to my French boss, who deeply loved Japanese culture, I brought matcha, a tea bowl, and a bamboo whisk to the office and prepared a bowl of tea for him.
He was quietly moved and said, half-jokingly, “This is the only reason to hire you.” More than the words themselves, what stayed with me was the joy he experienced through Japanese culture. At that moment, a quiet yet powerful desire arose within me to share that experience more deeply with other people.
As I later worked on projects that reflected Japanese sensibilities within Western spaces, I came to realize that the beauty of Japan lies in its connection to nature, in stillness, and in the spirit that resides within objects. It is something that can only be felt when the mind becomes quiet. This realization became my point of origin.
In a time when technology advances rapidly, and uncertainty and anxiety continue to grow, returning to the present moment and gently quieting the mind can be essential for reconnecting with oneself.
From this belief, I began hosting a workshop in New York called “Matcha Time for Mindfulness.”
Over the years, I have welcomed more than 600 guests into thoughtfully prepared, intimate spaces. Many participants were surprised by the depth of calm they experienced. Some shared that they felt a visible reduction in stress, while others said they never imagined finding such tranquility in the heart of Manhattan. Several expressed a desire to continue the experience as a series or to explore it more deeply.
My hope has always been for participants not only to experience Japanese culture in New York, but eventually to encounter it more fully in Japan itself— with the sensitivity and understanding that allow for truly meaningful exchange.
An awareness of cultural context, history, etiquette, and unspoken customs can profoundly shape how one is received and how deeply one is welcomed.
This vision has been realized through close collaboration with trusted partners based in Tokyo. We share the same values—depth, attentiveness, and sincerity— shaped by long careers in the luxury field.
In Japan, where the seasons change quietly, traditional arts—beginning with the tea ceremony and ikebana, and extending through kimono, ceramics, and urushi ware, Zen philosophy, and waka poetry—express the beauty of nature and its impermanence.
For those who feel a quiet curiosity toward Japanese culture, this experience is an invitation to touch its essence—not its surface. To engage with this culture is also to become a steward of it, supporting traditions passed down not to be displayed, but to be lived.
This journey is not an escape from reality. It is a bridge—connecting culture, sensitivity, and one’s inner world. Which elements of Japanese beauty quietly resonate with your heart?