Renee teaches intercultural communication at Sophia University in Tokyo. Beyond her academic work, she actively participates in a wide range of Japanese cultural experiences and has developed keen insights into how culture is communicated through everyday practices.

Having lived in Japan for many years, she has developed a deep appreciation for Japanese culture. Her curiosity extends beyond Japan as well, and through her travels and interest in cultures around the world, she enjoys exploring what different traditions can teach us about human connection.

As a regular participant in the monthly chanoyu gatherings, she has experienced tea culture through the eyes of a non-Japanese learner. Having watched the global matcha boom grow, she believes that matcha can become a doorway to something even deeper. She hopes more people will have the opportunity to discover the rich culture, values, and human connection that chanoyu offers.

Through her repeated experiences with chanoyu and other traditional arts, Renee has developed a keen eye for the subtle ways Japanese culture is expressed through silence, timing, gestures, and shared space. In this event, she brings together both scholarly expertise and lived experience, offering participants a relatable perspective on discovering Japanese culture from the outside.