Join tea master Kimura Sōshin for a guided tour of the exhibition Hyakkō: 100+ Makers from Japan, exploring the qualities of wabi through modern Japanese crafts in connection with chanoyu or chadō, the Way of Tea.
The exhibition Hyakkō: 100+ Makers from Japan is on display in the Gallery at Japan House London until 10 May 2026.
Among the many terms used to describe Japanese aesthetics, wabi is one of the most commonly used, often appearing alongside its companion concept, wabi-sabi. Wabi on its own refers to the beauty found in simplicity, irregularity and imperfection. Found online and in print in magazines and academic writing, the word has become ubiquitous and interpreted in different ways. But has its meaning become so diluted that its essence is no longer fully grasped?
Through this event, Kimura Sōshin demystifies and redefines wabi, offering deeper insight into how it is expressed through craft, practices of everyday life and chanoyu. Moving beyond surface interpretations, he examines how an appreciation of imperfection, imbalance and asymmetry invites us to reconsider our understanding of humanity, our relationship with nature and the importance of care and respect for others.
This event offers one of the final opportunities to enjoy the exhibition through an expert-led experience.
The exhibition Hyakkō: 100+ Makers from Japan is on display in the Gallery at Japan House London until 10 May 2026.
About the Speaker
Kimura Sōshin
Kimura Sōshin, born in 1976 in Ehime Prefecture, is a tea master, author, scholar and founder of the Hōshinkai Tea Society, established in 1997. A graduate of Kobe University, he serves as Visiting Professor at Kyoto University, Kyoto City University of Arts, and Kwansei Gakuin University.
Based in Kyoto and Tokyo, he teaches tea culture to artists, academics, and professionals. Kimura Sōshin is known for reinterpreting the centuries old practice of Tea in contemporary contexts through writing, exhibitions and international collaborations. He received the Medal with Dark Blue Ribbon in 2010 in recognition of his charitable activities.