The History of Tea in Japan

Tea culture was originally introduced into Japan via Buddhism during the reign of Prince Shataku who lived 574 through 622. During the 12th century relations between Japan and China improved and it's during this period that the monk Asai introduced both the Renzai Zen Buddhism practice as well as whipped tea to Japan. Martin writes that Asai proclaimed tea as a cure for loss of appetite. Illness is caused by poor drinking water, paralysis, boils and what we would come to know of as a thymine deficiency.