Matcha originally began as a drink for Zen practitioners during their ascetic training. It was drunk to maintain concentration, nourish the body, and calm the mind during the rigorous ascetic training.

Later, matcha was also consumed by samurai, giving birth to the culture of chanoyu that has continued to the present day. The warriors who risked their lives in battle sought relief from the stress and pressure of battle through the tea ceremony, and even built a hypothetical tea house on the battlefield to drink matcha.

Many businessmen in New York, like the Samurai of the past, may be looking for spiritual healing. Bringing the spirit of chanoyu into the office and drinking matcha tea can help them regain a brief moment of peace of mind.

In this lecture by tea master Yoshitsugu Nagano, participants will learn about the history of chanoyu and the benefits of matcha using slides in the first half of the lecture, and in the second half, they will actually use authentic tea utensils to make and drink matcha together in a practical lecture.

This lecture is for employees of Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank.