TrueJapanTour

January 2027

Global Chado Academy opens

The Institute for Japanese Culture Experience and Education (IJCEE), a non-profit organisation, was founded in 2008 to preserve, develop and create Japanese culture. Influenced by Chinese culture, Japan has nonetheless developed a culture of its own.

The spirit of chado — “senshin” (purifying the mind) and “taru o shiru” (knowing what is enough) — is not about satisfying material desire but about valuing what we have. We hope to carry on the Japanese culture built on this spirit, develop it through exchange with other cultures, and help create a peaceful and safe world for the future.

In this spirit, IJCEE is opening Global Chado Academy. It offers three key features.

Feature 1

Online Lessons

An annual online subscription gives you access to the following videos for learning chado:

1. Videos of the English seminars held through December 16–18 — Themes are Zen, temae, Japanese cuisine, Japanese culture and more
2. How to use tea utensils: Tea Bowls, Whisks, Braziers, Kettles, Ladles and more
3. At least four new videos a year, capturing the feel of four seasons — Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter
4. Questions and answers about chado

Feature 2

Online Shop

An obstacle to continue chado back in home countries even with a Chado set purchased in Japan is the lack of additional utensils. You may want more tea bowls, need to replace a worn whisk, or wish to buy a brazier and kettle for a more authentic practice but it is difficult to do so outside of Japan. However, when that time comes, the Global Chado Academy online shop is here to help Chado lovers.

Decent Quality matcha suited to Chado is especially hard to find abroad any place but Japan. Type A members in the chart below are to receive a can of matcha every year.

Feature 3

A Worldwide Network

Chado has the saying “ichigo ichie” – treasure each encounter, as it may happen only once in a lifetime. The image on the right shows an online tea gathering between Japan and the United Kingdom.

Through Chado, the circle of people around the world is expanded. Learning about each other’s cultures and thoughts deepens understanding and friendship to one another. We hope that international exchange through chado will lead to mutual understanding and world peace beyond borders.

An online tea gathering between Japan and the UK

Principal of Global Chado Academy

Wakako Yamaguchi

Vice Chairman of NPO IJCEE
Licensed guide-interpreter (English)
Special Award: Guide of the Year 2024
Head of the IJCEE International Chado; having trained over 100 students
Learned the Sohen and Urasenke schools, and is a member of an Omotesenke tea circle
In 2019, sent by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Turkey as a Japanese culture expert, introducing calligraphy and tea ceremony to great acclaim

Membership

Choose your plan

Membership	Annual Fee*	Benefits
Type A	JPY 15,000	All videos + 1 tin of matcha
Type B	JPY 9,000	All videos

*Free trial: January–March 2027. Paid membership starts in April 2027.

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