i. Biography
His specialty is Japanese tea, and the work starts with access: “So many young Japanese have never even tasted a properly prepared cup of tea. I want to change that.” In that line, Shinya Sakurai makes the point plainly. The task is not to preserve tea as something distant or ceremonial by default, but to return it to daily use with the care the craft requires. In his hands, tea is treated as a living practice, one that asks for attention at the moment of preparation and at the moment of drinking.
Coming Up
The title Tea Master is formal, but Sakurai Tea Experience, which Shinya Sakurai has led since 2014, is built around a more open idea: a structured way into Japanese tea for people meeting it with fresh eyes. Since 2014, the work has centered on presentation as much as preparation, with tea framed as the main act rather than a side note. That balance matters in the trade: disciplined handling on one side, hospitality on the other. The craft here begins before service. The language around Sakurai’s mission points to the same standard that should govern the cup itself: tea deserves deliberate treatment, not casual handling. Through Sakurai Tea Experience, Shinya Sakurai has made that standard legible, placing Japanese tea in a setting where it can be understood as traditional practice and as something newly approachable.
Where They Are Now
The aim is stated without ornament: “I want to offer people a new way of enjoying Japanese tea.” Shinya Sakurai’s focus is not on making tea harder to understand, but on removing the barriers that keep it at a distance. The cup is treated as an invitation, and enjoyment is part of the brief. That approach gives the work a contemporary edge without changing the underlying practice. In a culture shaped by speed, Sakurai’s stance is to slow the exchange enough for flavor, texture, and temperature to register. The point is not to remake Japanese tea, but to put it back in circulation with clarity. That is where preservation meets usefulness: an older craft carried forward in terms people can actually taste.
In Their Words “So many young Japanese have never even tasted a properly prepared cup of tea. I want to change that.” “I want to offer people a new way of enjoying Japanese tea.”
Honors
None.
Profile updated July 2026
FAQ
Asked of Shinya
What is Shinya Sakurai's current role?
As of 2026, Shinya Sakurai is Tea Master and founder.
What is Shinya Sakurai known for?
Japanese tea.
