"In Holland people are straightforward, honest and things seem simple, but Japan is the complete opposite in my opinion. Everything there seems like a mystery to me."
I went to Japan for the first time when I was 8 years old. I was lucky enough to travel abroad often and Visit many countries with my parents from a young age. But from the first moment that I arrived in Tokyo I knew that Japan was different from all the countries that I had visited before.
After my trip to Japan I started drinking Matcha. In highschool people often made fun of me for drinking this weird green drink that tasted like grass. I didn’t care, I loved the distinctive flavor and kept drinking it and introducing it to more and more people. I was thrilled when more and more cafe's started selling it on their menu's in Amsterdam. But still the flavour was never the same as in Japan.
I have travelled back to Japan many times since, and feel heartbroken every time I have to leave. The culture inspires me daily by showing me the beauty of patience and living in the moment.
"I wanted people to have something that is Rare and Authentically made with Love."
On one of my recent trips to Japan I started learning more about the Tea ceremony culture. I visited an antique store in Asakusa, and got into a conversation with the owner of the store. A beautiful Matcha Bowl with a flower bouquet and a Samurai Helmet caught my eye. The Owner of the store told me about the bowl. He explained that it was a Matcha Bowl that had been made in Kyoto approximately 50 years ago. The bowl had the Masters signature on the bottom and was presented in a Wooden box with a colored cord around it. I Bought the Bowl and when I got home I started googling all the things that the antique shop owner taught me about.I found out the story behind the drawing on the Bowl and was fascinated by the depth, stories and meanings of the Tea Ceremony Culture.
I started telling my family and friends about The Matcha Bowls and Tea culture and I started to notice that I wasn’t the only one who was intrigued.
In Holland people are straightforward, honest and things seem simple, but Japan is the complete opposite in my opinion. Everything there seems like a mystery to me. No matter how often I visit, every time I am there I learn new things and get inspired in a different way.
I started IZUMI because I wanted to introduce people to the beauty of the Japanes Tea ceremony Culture. All of the Matcha Bowls are one of a kind pieces from all over Japan with a different story and appearance.
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