Tea drinking is a common habit in several countries, but it plays a key role in Japanese traditions. That’s why Japanese artist and creator Tokujin Yoshioka chose to study this cultural aspect of the Land of the Rising Sun, reinterpreting the Japanese tea ceremony through a contemporary prism.

Thanks to a peculiar but beautiful installation, Yoshioka traces the origin of this tradition using a simple material: glass. This transparent teahouse provides onlookers and tourists with an opportunity to immerse themselves in Japanese culture and sense the essence of its history.

Although Japanese futuristic inventions and technologic innovation are world-renowned, the artist wished rather to highlight a traditional aspect that is still very strong in Japanese culture and to approach the immutability of traditions and history through design.

Moreover, the translucent concept of the teahouse seems to satisfy the voyeuristic aspect of our age, as nowadays we like sharing so much all the little things happening in our life. Thanks to the transparency of its structure, the tea ceremony becomes a show, aligning itself with the media overconsumption that’s typical of our days.

This project has already been installed in Kyoto for two years, but, after welcoming hundreds of local and international tourists, it has closed its doors on the 10th of September, just to finally start travelling on a tour inside the country.