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<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nHello, and thank you for visiting. My name is Satomi, the manager here at Oh! Mama.
Let me share a little story about how I came to open this small cultural salon in Tokyo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25a0 A Childhood Memory That Stayed with Me<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n When I was about ten, I traveled overseas for the first time to Walt Disney World in Florida. Ever since then, I\u2019ve carried a quiet wish in my heart: \u201cI wish I had been able to say something.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I started learning English in a local public junior high school, but even then, I felt a little intimidated. I still remember freezing up when asked to read the letter \u201cg\u201d aloud in class. Everyone was watching. My hands were sweaty. That moment stayed with me and for some time, English was scary for me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u25a0 Learning to Appreciate My Own Culture<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In high school, I attended an international program and had pen pals overseas. Through tea, I discovered the beauty of hospitality and simplicity. \u25a0 After Many Moves, I Found My Place<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n After university, I worked in a city office, got married, and moved to an unfamiliar place for my husband\u2019s job. Years and a few moves later, I returned to Tokyo, raised a child, and worked part-time for a co-op and a university. Then came an incredible opportunity: a relative offered to me lend their traditional Japanese house in Tokyo. This is the place I\u2019ve been looking for!!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u25a0 A Space to Experience the Heart of Japan<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Here, I opened a small cultural salon, offering authentic Shodo <\/em>(calligraphy) and Sado<\/em> (tea ceremony<\/strong>) experiences. Since opening, I\u2019ve had the joy of welcoming guests from 22 different countries. \u25a0 I\u2019m So Glad You\u2019re Here<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re a lover of Japan, or someone who enjoys matcha and finds beauty in Japanese arts, then this is the place for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even if you’re unsure how to bow, or speak Japanese, that\u2019s perfectly okay. I hope this experience becomes one of the most meaningful memories of your journey in Japan. I look forward to meeting you.<\/p>\n\n\n
I remember running through the park, falling, and being approached by a friendly staff member. She said something kindly, probably, \u201cAre you okay?\u201d But I didn\u2019t understand a single word of English. I just ran back to my family, heart pounding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was exciting, but I realized I didn\u2019t know how to explain my own culture. That realization led me to join the Sado<\/em> (tea ceremony) club. And that changed everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My teacher was a gentle tea master, and even after I graduated, I continued learning from her. At the same time, I explored many things such as dance, language, international exchange.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At one point, I worked for Toyota, where a senior colleague guided foreign visitors around the office and the factories. He looked so happy doing it. That inspired me to pursue and get the national license as a certified tour guide<\/strong> in English.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It has a roof tile gate, tatami rooms, and even an irori<\/strong> hearth, which is rare in the central Tokyo now. That\u2019s when I realized:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Calligraphy is something almost everyone in Japan learns in school, while tea ceremony, even among Japanese, is often unfamiliar on a deeper level. I wanted to create a place where people would enjoy both in a peaceful and personal atmosphere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Each encounter is supremely precious to me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You\u2019re already welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And I hope you\u2019ll leave thinking,
\u201cI want to come back.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n