Soryo Matsumura is a Japanese tea master and Associate Professor of the Urasenke School of Tea, as well as the founder of SHUHALLY and Mucha Kuchā Inc., a creative company dedicated to producing and managing artists working within the expanded field of chanoyu (the Way of Tea).
During his travels across Europe as a university student, Matsumura realized that despite being Japanese, he had little understanding of his own cultural roots. This experience led him to begin studying chanoyu upon returning to Japan.
Rooted in the traditions of tea while embracing contemporary creativity, Matsumura has developed a distinctive approach that reinterprets chanoyu for modern audiences. Under the philosophy of “making tea more free and enjoyable,” he leads tea gatherings, educational programs, and cultural projects both in Japan and internationally.
Through Mucha Kuchā Inc., founded with members of the artistic collective The TEA-ROOM, he collaborates with artists across disciplines to create projects that transcend conventional boundaries—ranging from tea ceremony productions and live performances to spatial design and cultural experiences.
In recent years, he has also become certified in mindfulness, integrating its principles with the practice of tea to create immersive experiences that cultivate presence, awareness, and inner stillness.
He has presented tea experiences in over ten countries and has been invited to produce tea ceremonies in distinguished settings including official residences of government leaders. His work is also known for its cross-disciplinary collaborations with contemporary art, butoh, human beatbox, manga, and other cultural forms.
Matsumura is the creator of the original tea room Bunsaian, named by the 16th Grand Master of Urasenke, Zabosai, which received the Good Design Award.
He has appeared on NHK as a featured tea expert and spoke at TEDxTokyo, where he presented a new expression of tea ceremony through collaboration with contemporary artists and musicians.
Through his ongoing work, Matsumura continues to explore how the spirit of tea can resonate within contemporary life and across cultures—preserving its essence while expanding its possibilities.
https://shuhally.jp/
https://mucha-kucha.co.jp/en/