【Teacher Li Youqun】 Exclusively Visits the World’s First Specialty Drip-Brewed Japanese Tea Shop

Originally published onLi Youqun

Thanks to an invitation from the well-known Osaka bag brand master-piece (MSPC), I recently attended the master-piece MSPC PRODUCT 2017 autumn/winter new product showcase and experienced an interesting workshop on handmade leather goods. Most notably, MSPC specially invited me to participate in the event for the “world’s first specialty drip-brewed Japanese tea shop” held in Tokyo.

I had previously heard from Japanese friends how popular Tokyo Saryo has become in Japan, so I had long planned to visit the hard-to-get-into Tokyo Saryo on my next trip to Sangenjaya. Little did I know it would actually happen.

Located in Tokyo’s Sangenjaya district, Tokyo Saryo operates by appointment only and has just a few seats. If you frequently visit Tokyo, you probably know that Sangenjaya is a popular residential area for many celebrities and a highly sought-after upscale neighborhood among Tokyo’s youth. Earlier this year, the tea brand green brewing, combining the concept of drip coffee, established Tokyo Saryo here—making it the world’s first specialty shop dedicated to drip-brewed Japanese tea.

The usually hard-to-get-into Tokyo Saryo is now something I’ve had the fortune to exclusively experience, with the two founding masterminds, Mr. Aoyagi Tomoshi and Mr. Tanimoto Mikito, personally serving and brewing tea for me. I feel incredibly lucky.

Mr. Aoyagi asked me what kind of tea I liked. Without holding back, I shared how much I adore Kyoto and authentic Japanese matcha. They then recommended two teas for me: SAEMIDORI from Tanegashima Island “Kirishima,” and the more bitter FUJIEDAKAORI from Shizuoka “Fujieda.” I laughed and said I had stayed with a host family in Kagoshima during high school, and my great-aunt now lives in Shizuoka Prefecture—it really is fate.

The idea of opening a drip-brewed tea shop came about because many customers kept asking how to use the utensils designed by MAKE EXPERIENCE, which inspired the two to create the world’s first physical store for drip-brewed Japanese tea. During our conversation, I could deeply sense their pride in Japanese tea culture and their dedicated, tea-centric spirit.

Unlike traditional tea ceremonies, they aim to introduce Japanese tea to the world in a more relaxed, everyday way. The utensils and packaging are all personally designed by them. I savored the “Kirishima” tea in my hand, paired with a tangy fruit yokan. They told me the second infusion has an even richer flavor. As I inhaled the ocean-like seaweed aroma wafting from the cup and tasted the delicate, layered aftertaste that coats the throat, I finally understood what the Japanese mean by “umami.”

Mr. Aoyagi and Mr. Tanimoto told me this was their first time in Taiwan, and they’ll soon be busy with the opening of their second shop in Tokyo’s Ginza. I asked if, besides Japanese tea, they might consider including “Taiwanese tea” in the future. They said it’s definitely possible—“bringing Japanese tea to the world and bringing the world’s tea to Japan” is one of their dreams.

Sipping the drip-brewed tea, I admired their pride and dedication to their own tea culture. We in Taiwan also have a tea culture we can proudly share with the world—the key lies in our confidence and attitude.

As I recommended some Taiwanese teas to them, the three of us made plans to meet again in Tokyo.
Thank you master-piece and Yu-chan.

Li Youqun / International Fashion Director
A leading figure in the Chinese fashion industry, holder of the record for most fashion magazine founding editor-in-chiefs. Active in the entertainment world, he is a designated collaborator on fashion shows like “Women’s Greatest” and a go-to stylist for international brands and top celebrities. With fashion at his core, he is the only person in Taiwan who uniquely embodies the multifaceted roles of editor-in-chief, fashion director, stylist, and author.
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