Refine the Mind, Build Trust – Discovering Leadership and Hospitality through the Business Tea Ceremony
In today’s fast-paced business world, true leadership requires not only skills and strategy, but also empathy, cultural intelligence, and emotional awareness.
This unique Business Tea Ceremony Program, led by Professor Katsuyo Tanaka — associate professor of the Urasenke tea tradition and Kyoto’s Cultural Tourism Ambassador — offers corporate teams and leaders an immersive experience in the spirit of Japanese hospitality and mindfulness.
Participants will learn how to apply the essence of the Japanese tea ceremony to modern business contexts, cultivating greater sensitivity, communication skills, and team trust. This is not a passive etiquette training — it’s a chance to embrace a proactive, heartfelt approach to hospitality that can truly inspire your team and your clients.
Why Tea Ceremony for Corporate Training?
Far beyond a cultural ritual, the tea ceremony has long served as a strategic space for business dialogue and human connection — even as far back as the Sengoku era of feudal Japan, where powerful warlords and merchants gathered in tea rooms to negotiate, reflect, and refine their thinking.
In a quiet space of intentionality, you’ll learn to:
- Observe with empathy
- Anticipate the needs of others
- Create psychological safety
- Cultivate presence and creative thinking
These skills are directly transferable to corporate leadership, team building, client relations, and cross-cultural communication.
Perfect for These Corporate Occasions
- As a cultural experience for international staff or overseas guests
- For team building and strengthening group cohesion
- As a mindful leadership training program
- As a cultural recreation option after conferences or site visits
Program Overview (Fully Customizable)
Duration: Approx. 90–120 minutes
Group size: 6–20 participants (flexible)
Languages: Japanese / English available
Venue: Traditional tea room or Japanese-style space in Kyoto (on-site options also available)
Optional Add-ons: Japanese sweets-making experience, Zen meditation, dialogue with the tea master, feedback session
Discover the Spirit of “Omotenashi” – Japan’s Authentic Hospitality in Business
This experience will deepen your understanding of omotenashi—the Japanese spirit of hospitality—not just as a courteous manner, but as an intentional act of bringing joy to others.
Through the business tea ceremony, your team will sharpen their five senses, rediscover the strength of thoughtful interaction, and walk away with a new appreciation for human-centered leadership.
Let us help you design a tailored corporate training that suits your team’s goals, schedule, and budget. Whether you’re aiming to develop better team communication, introduce Japanese culture to your overseas staff, or explore new angles in executive training, we will create the perfect plan with you.
