Hello! It's been a little over a year since we put TEA TEA TEA out into the world, and we’ve wanted an outlet to share our stories and research for quite some time. We're excited to start sharing our thoughts on all things TTT: art, design, nature, people, and of course tea. So here it is, we hope you enjoy reading, wherever you might be. 
An origin story feels like the right place to start.
TEA TEA TEA is just three people: me (Kio), my older brother (Mikuto), and our dad (Shingo). Pinpointing when and where TTT started is a bit vague, and all three of us would probably answer differently.
From my perspective, it started shortly after I graduated college in 2022. Mikuto had already been living in Tokyo for a few years, my dad was in Los Angeles, and I ended up staying in Massachusetts. With all of us spread out, we figured that hopping on a weekly scheduled call would be a nice way to stay in touch. At first we would just catch up, share projects, ideas, and things we encountered throughout the week. To be honest, I’m not completely sure when this turned into TTT, but those calls slowly evolved into a family project.
My dad, a commercial photographer for our entire childhood, had been immersing himself in the world of Japanese tea for several years. To my brother and me, his practice of tea felt like a culmination of who he is as a person: creative, meticulous, and approaching every aspect of life with the utmost attention. Whether it was deliberate or not, I think he saw an opportunity to try and bring something to life with us.
Having grown up in a Japanese household, Mikuto and I were already familiar with tea and had been educated on its cultural and historical significance for years. What really drew me in was the idea of "sōgō-geijutsu", a total work of art. Japanese tea ceremony feels like the quintessential example of this, synthesizing a myriad of art forms into one cohesive practice. I still believe it is one of the most complete expressions of art and culture that humanity has ever produced. Our dream is to bring all of these elements together, working with Japanese tradition and contemporary creative practice to propose a modern vision of Japanese tea.
What that actually looks like in reality is something we're gradually materializing, but it all starts with the tea itself. Everything we carry is sourced directly from farmers in Japan, people we've built friendships with over the years. Their farming methods are rare, the origins specific, and the intention behind each tea is something we want to make legible. Future notes will go more in-depth about our farms, farmers, and tea.
Of course, attempting to start a business with your family is no easy task, but we were all willing to give it a try. None of us had studied business or run a retail operation before, so it was entirely uncharted territory. All the while, we were living our own lives in different time zones with full work schedules. The first couple of years were spent figuring out what we wanted TTT to be, coming up with a name, and designing a logo. Then came setting up the supply chain, building the website, and making TTT exist as a legal entity. Each step of the way brought something new, which made things exciting but also frustrating at times. We often joke that it feels like riding a bike in the lowest gear, pedaling as fast as we can, but only inching up the mountain.
Now in 2026, we have our first full year of business under our belts, a better sense of what it takes to work with family, and are slowly bringing the vision to life. At its core, TTT allows us to stay in touch and work together, but it has definitely evolved into something more. Sharing the culture of Japanese tea, working with farmers and craftsmen in Japan, and getting to see our dad serve a perfect cup of tea. We are incredibly grateful for all the support we've received thus far, and are excited to continue expanding the world of TEA TEA TEA and share the best that our culture has to offer.
If you're curious about our teas, you can find our current selection here!
With love,
Kio