Activities as an instructor for the table-style tea ceremony

[Activity area] Throughout Europe with a focus on Switzerland, Osaka, Tokyo, and online. [Activity theme] “Connecting the world over a cup of tea.” [Activity schedule] Weekdays. Please feel free to contact us regarding weekends and holidays.

[Self-introduction]
  • After graduating from university, I worked as an IT consultant for domestic and international projects for 13 years at IT companies in Japan, the United States, and India.
  • After graduating from the Tokyo Sushi Academy Professional Course in 2005, I have been providing Japanese food services, including sushi classes and catering, to over 10,000 people in Switzerland as a Japanese food chef, “Sushi Yoko,” since 2007.
  • Also, as “Kimono Yoko,” I started holding kimono lunch parties once a month in Zurich in 2015, and have been promoting the spread of kimonos to the world through online tea parties since January 2021, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. In my YouTube channel, “Kimono Yoko in Switzerland,” I introduce easy ways to tie an obi, and currently have over 13,000 subscribers and approximately 3 million views in total. (As of May 2023).
[Activity history] Starting in May 2022, I began working as a lecturer for the Table-style Tea Ceremony Camellia Society, utilizing my 25 years of international exchange experience abroad to promote the theme of “Connecting the world over a cup of tea,” primarily in Europe.

June 2022: Responsible for the cuisine of a Chakaiseki meal in Zurich. August 2022: Workshop for consulting companies at a hotel in Zurich. October 2022: Demonstration at the Paris International Sake Expo. December 2022: Start of lecturer qualification training in Zurich. January 2023: Collaboration with Master Motoko Nakamura at a tea ceremony experience event on the 33rd floor of a certain hotel in Tokyo. February 2023: Demonstration at the Zurich International Travel Fair. April 2023: Starting a matcha workshop at my home salon. April 2023: Online qualification awarding for Canadian residents. May 2023: Sky Tea Party at the 24th-floor Club Lounge of the Osaka ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel. January 2024: Sky Tea Party scheduled to be held at a certain hotel’s Club Lounge in Tokyo.

[Recommended for]
  • Those exploring activities after retirement.
  • Those who plan to work overseas and want to interact with locals.
  • Those living abroad who want to pass on Japanese culture to their children.
  • Those involved in local governments, hotels, ryokans, and shukubo who are planning activities for inbound visitors.
  • Those who have difficulty sitting on tatami mats due to lower limb disabilities.
  • Those who have hearing impairments but can learn through video.
  • Those who can no longer continue practicing traditional tatami tea ceremony due to age-related reasons.
  • Those interested in learning traditional tea ceremony etiquette.
[Recommendation for Online Learning]

The benefits of taking courses online include the ability to attend without being restricted by time or location, and the option to review materials such as tea ceremonies via video as many times as needed. We particularly recommend online courses for those who struggle with memorization. Please see here for examples of how the courses are conducted. We can also provide tips for online presentations and classes during the course.

We confidently recommend our courses to those who are considering becoming certified instructors.

[Future Activities]

We have been continuing to promote tea culture at various events, such as the Paris International Sake Exhibition.

Moving forward, we aim to share tea culture through our home salon in Zurich and various cultural events around the world, regardless of gender, age, or disabilities, by enjoying a cup of tea together and promoting a sense of cultural exchange.

Through the limitless possibilities of table-style tea ceremonies, let’s spread sustainable tea culture together!

We look forward to hearing from you.