The World of Omotesenke Tea Ceremony
according to Joy Mari Sato
Mariko Sato - Ikebana Flower Arranging Teacher
The world of The Japanese Tea Ceremony began for me in 1977 in Nagasaki, Japan, with a Tea Teacher by the name of Ikeda Sensei. She taught me how to sit for long hours on my knees and the art of making a bowl of green powdered tea. Two years later, I graduated from the basics of serving TEA and began to study seriously every day with a Master Tea Teacher, by the name of Oga Sensei. In 1980, I returned to San Diego, California, and began studying with my present Tea Teacher, Kawasaki Soso Sensei, who is now 106 years of age. At this point in my study of TEA, I began to experience the Spirit of Tea and also quietly observed that this particular green powdered TEA has medicinal properties.
In 1993, my Tea Teacher was diagnosed with terminal colon cancer and at this point she was advised to undergo chemotherapy and radiation therapy. She opted against these conventional methods of eradicating her cancer. It was at this moment in time that I suggested trying a detoxification product. Six months later she was doing well and her blood test results were negative for cancer in her system. Then in June of 2003, she was again diagnosed with colon cancer and I suggested she try grapefruit seed extract and DE-TOX-EN. After her bloodwork came back negative for cancer in November of 2003, I knew that there had to be benefits in both drinking green powdered tea and in using DE-TOX-EN.
What makes green tea so potent and valuable in prevention and protection from harmful diseases? Most researchers believe the POLYPHENOLS in green tea are responsible for the health benefits. More specifically, certain catechins found in green tea are believed to be the most powerful. The categhins in green tea make up a large percentage of the total amount of polyphenols. Certain catechins, especially Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG) are believed to provide the most protection.
Composition of Green Tea: Source: Preventive Medicine (Journal of the American Health Foundation - Volume 21, Number 3, May 1992)