"I was born to a Japanese mother who was highly skilled and talented with both Ikebana flower arrangement and the Japanese Tea ceremony.  Beginning at the early ages of three and four, my mother introduced me to her passions, sharing her knowledge and technique. Being so young, I did not follow the instruction very well, but the seed was planted. 

Although I was not immediately into these art forms, I continued to be exposed to them. I watched my mother teaching her students, there were usually a couple of big flower arrangements sitting in the house, and often I attended events to help my mother. 

As I got older, my tastes in art and beauty got more sophisticated through broader exposure, and experiences, including travel to various countries.  

Throughout my 20s and 30s I pursued my career at investment banks.  I enjoyed the dynamic and remarkably fast-paced environment but also found the environment to be very competitive and stressful…

Seeking inner peace, I knocked on the door of one teacher’s door from Sogetsu Ikebana school. I became obsessed and was consumed by a desire to learn everything I could and create this beautiful art. I joined the school, worked hard, and obtained a teacher’s degree in just 2 years, while still working full time. I soon organized numerous workshops for my colleagues and friends after work and on weekends. 

In 2018 December, after living in Tokyo my whole life, my husband and I moved to London.  As I was also pregnant, this seemed like the right time for me to resign from my previous career to focus on our transition to our new life and our child, while still getting to enjoy my passion for creating artistic flower arrangements in the Ikebana style . 

Pursuing a flower-arranging business has always been my dream, and now that my daughter is officially in primary school, I am excited to make that dream a reality ."

Matcha in Daily Life

For Rei, the Tea Ceremony was not something that required great effort to learn—it was an integral part of her upbringing. With a mother who is a master of the Urasenke school, Rei was introduced to the art of tea from the age of four. While sitting quietly for long periods wasn't particularly enjoyable for a young child, the promise of beautiful seasonal sweets and the rich flavor of matcha kept her coming back. Over time, as she observed the ebb and flow of students in her mother's small classes, Rei found herself spending more time on the tatami than most, though it was never her intention.

Rei’s mother, a passionate devotee of both matcha and the tea ceremony, kept a constant supply of more than two cans of Ippodo matcha powder in the fridge, and started every day with two cups. She would offer matcha to anyone who visited, regardless of whether they were familiar with or even fond of it. Rei, deeply influenced by her mother’s unwavering dedication, gradually incorporated these practices into her own life. As she entered high school, she joined the Tea Ceremony Club, where she experienced the practice in a more structured and serious manner than simply participating in her mother’s classes.

It was during this time that Rei’s appreciation for the tea ceremony deepened. Upon graduating, she began studying directly under her mother’s guidance, which ultimately led to the founding of SAHANA Tea.

2012 March 

Enrolled Sogetsu Ikebana School 

2014   

Promoted 4th-grade Diploma teacher at Sogetsu Ikebana School

Hosted Ikebana learning events and workshops for seasonal themes

2023 February 

Performed Ikebana flower arrangement and organized a workshop at Great Beginning Montessori Nursery School 

Presented Ikebana arrangements at the entrance of Great Beginning Montessori Nursery School weekly basis. 

2023 March  

Launched bi-weekly Ikebana Flower arrangement lessons at home. 

2023 September

Launched SAHANA LONDON