An ancient way of doing business in Japan www.bbc.com

“That is when I realised that [the] tea ceremony isn’t solely about strict adherence to the rules.
That was the beginning of the Kyūtō-Ryū tea ceremony.
A new-wave of office gatheringsThe Kyūtō-Ryū, kitchenette-style tea ceremony, is conducted during lunch breaks, and Tanida believes there are three major benefits to his new-wave of tea ceremony.
During a tea ceremony, participants intermingle regardless of job title.
“Through these tea gatherings,” Tanida says, “the samurai warriors would openly discuss weaponry and strategy, regardless of class and title.