The seasons come and go, and the scenery around us changes.
As the days flow by and are gone, simply standing still every now and then can be enough to find new and stimulating encounters.

Take a break and see what insights you might discover.
Take a deep sip of tea.

“Pause & Inspire”

#7 Moving On Up

There’s something wonderful about the brilliance of the morning sun in midwinter.

It takes a genuine effort of will to rouse myself from my warm bed, but it’s always easier to get up when you have a concrete objective.

Today, I plan to climb Mt. Takao, Tokyo’s very own mountain.

I get dressed and prepare some sencha for the walk before I set off.

I can hear the flow of fresh water somewhere off in the distance, overlaid by the sound of my own footsteps crunching across the ground carpeted with fallen leaves.

Knobbly roots crawl from some unknown origin across my path, while the grass grows like straggly hair down an unkempt neck.

I accept all that I know and all that I do not, simply moving onwards and upwards.

As a reward for reaching the top, it’s time to indulge in something I’ve always wanted to try.

Nodate, the art of brewing tea outdoors, in this case, matcha. There’s nothing quite like a cup on top of the mountain.

A brew of my own imagining, made by me, and for me alone.

The pure unadulterated green of the leaves.

A sense of clarity pervades my being as I drink every last drop.

As I finish the cup, my face naturally points skyward.

I may have made a new discovery for the New Year.

I must remember to keep my head up this year and do what I want to do.

And here’s hoping I get to drink plenty more delicious tea!

Model: miu
Direction & Styling: Tadashi Mochizuki
Photography: Masayuki Shimizu
Hair & Make-up: Nori
Produce: Kenichi Kakuno & Hiroshi Inada
Edit & Text: Yoshiki Tatezaki｜Coordination: Miho Akahoshi & Mika Kobayashi
Location: Mt. Takao
Special Support: Mammut Japan & Mt. Takao Base Camp