SPEAK-TEA-SY
Born in Tokyo in 2022, Speak-Tea-Sy is a travelling Japanese tea experience developed by a|round tea and Tea Bucks. What began as an intimate gathering in Daikanyama has evolved into a global cultural event where tea, craft, nightlife, and community meet. Reimagining Japanese tea as a social catalyst, Speak-Tea-Sy brings it into contemporary nightlife, inspired by the energy of tachinomi-style bars. Through creative drinks, music, and immersive experiences, it shifts tea from quiet contemplation to shared moments, expanding how and where Japanese tea can be experienced today.
(VOLUME 1, 2 & 3) Daikanyama, Tokyo
The first three editions of Speak-Tea-Sy were hosted between 2022 and 2023 in Daikanyama, Tokyo, the birthplace of the concept. Set in a secret venue, the former Studio Kitchen, these early gatherings defined the name and spirit of Speak-Tea-Sy: intimate, cultural, and irreverent.
Each night blended traditional Japanese arts with contemporary expression — from shamisen and koto performances to live ikebana. The result was an atmosphere where craftsmanship met curiosity, and tea met nightlife for the first time.
(Volume 4, 6 & 7) Lisbon, Portugal
Between 2024 and 2025, Speak-Tea-Sy took its first leap overseas — hosted in Lisbon at Bar Na Colina, Ryoshi and Royal Vessel Bar.
Using recipes perfected in Japan, each event invited local mixologists to reinterpret them, creating a dialogue between Japanese craft and Portuguese creativity.
The cultural focus shifted to post-war Japan — from the Shōwa era to today.
Playlists blended city-pop and early 2000s hip-hop; walls featured collages made from vintage Popeye, Playboy, Brutus, and other Japanese culture magazines.
A reconstruction of nostalgia, futurism, and playful spirit through tea, music, design, and motion.
(Volume 8) TRUNK HOTEL, Tokyo
Speak-Tea-Sy Vol. 8 marked a milestone for a|round tea at TRUNK(HOTEL) Cat Street, becoming our first-ever pop-up experience. Across a full day and night, tea met music, cocktails, and community through collaborations with Tea Bucks and Enter.Sake, the sake project founded by Richie Hawtin. The programme featured DJ sets by DJ Dennai and Haruna Mori, a live performance by Emi Aramaki, and live calligraphy by Cherry Jerrera. From our first product collaboration with Okayama Denim to an after-dark lounge, Vol. 8 celebrated tea as a vibrant social culture and became one of the most successful events ever hosted at TRUNK(HOTEL).
