If you love matcha lattes or Japanese tea, you’ve probably tasted a bit of the world that Sen no Rikyu helped create over 400 years ago.
He was a tea master in the 16th century who transformed tea drinking from a luxurious pastime into a spiritual and cultural art known as “The Way of Tea” (Chado).
Rikyu taught that preparing and sharing a bowl of tea is not just about taste—it’s about mindfulness, respect, and connection.
He introduced the idea that beauty lies in simplicity, in the sound of boiling water, the feel of handmade pottery, and the quiet moment shared between host and guest.
This aesthetic of wabi-sabi—the appreciation of imperfection and natural beauty—became the heart of Japanese tea culture.
The Urasenke School Today
Rikyu’s spirit continues through the Urasenke school, one of Japan’s three main schools of tea ceremony.
It has been passed down for 16 generations, and today the 16th Grand Master, Sen Soshitsu XVI, continues to share Rikyu’s message of “Peacefulness through a bowl of tea” with people around the world.
The Urasenke School Today
Rikyu’s spirit continues through the Urasenke school, one of Japan’s three main schools of tea ceremony.
It has been passed down for 16 generations, and today the 16th Grand Master, Sen Soshitsu XVI, continues to share Rikyu’s message of “Peacefulness through a bowl of tea” with people around the world.
16th Grand Master, Sen Soshitsu XVI
Even if you’re just whisking up a matcha latte at home, you’re touching a piece of that philosophy—slowing down, being present, and appreciating the moment.
That’s the modern form of Chado: finding calm and gratitude in everyday life, one bowl (or one cup) at a time.