In Japan, tea culture permeates every aspect of existence. To its most devoted practitioners—those keeping its traditions alive—it is more than a ritual; it is a way of life, and a prism through which the world’s complexities can be understood. Encompassing everything from art to architecture, it forms an aesthetic universe unto itself, guided by intention and the purpose of slowing down, simplifying our interactions, and living in harmony with one another.

Our exploration of tea’s touchstones led us into some of its most sacred dwellings to meet its masters—an assembly the likes of which has never been gathered.

Read the full story in The Current, Vol. 6.

‍