Randy Channell Soei, a Kyoto Tea Master.

Who is

Randy Channell Soei?

Randy Channell Soei is a Kyoto-based tea master, formally trained in the Urasenke tradition of Chadō; the Japanese Way of Tea. His path into tea was not driven by commerce, but by discipline, study, and years of lived practice within Japan’s tea culture.

For decades, Randy has devoted himself to understanding tea at its deepest level: from cultivar and terroir to processing, preparation, and the philosophy that surrounds it.

Most days, Randy’s schedule is shaped by teaching and transmission. He trains students in the principles and practice of the Way of Tea, guiding them through both its technical precision and its underlying philosophy. Alongside this, he serves matcha daily in his own shop in Kyoto, ran Hotei, welcoming tea lovers who seek an authentic encounter with Japanese tea, prepared traditionally.

Beyond teaching and serving, Randy is actively involved in organizing tea gatherings and ceremonies, creating moments where tradition is not displayed, but lived. His depth of knowledge and clarity of voice have also made him a respected figure beyond the tearoom; he is regularly invited to give interviews, speak publicly, and contribute to broader conversations about tea culture, both within Japan and internationally.

Through these many roles; teacher, practitioner, host, and speaker, Randy contributes to tea not from a single angle, but from many.

Urasenke training and lineage

Rikyū

Randy Channell Soei is formally trained in the Urasenke school of Chadō, one of the three main tea lineages descending from Sen no Rikyū, the historical founder of chanoyu (the Way of Tea). The principles of chanoyu are transmitted through direct mentorship rather than theory alone.

Urasenke preserves this heritage through an unbroken generational structure in which knowledge is transmitted directly from teacher to student.

Within this system, lineage functions much like a living family tree. A teacher inherits their training from their own teacher, who in turn learned from the generation before; often referred to as “grandteachers.” Techniques, etiquette, philosophy, and standards are not reinvented, but carefully passed down through these generational links

About our collaboration

Noble Matcha was founded on a simple but demanding principle: to offer real matcha, guided by honesty and trust. In an industry shaped by trend and self-proclaimed expertise, we felt a responsibility to be precise and sincere. That responsibility also required humility. The more we immersed ourselves in tea, the clearer it became how much there is to learn.

Rather than claiming authority, we chose to seek it at its source. Working with a tea master who has dedicated his life to study, practice, and transmission ensures that what we share is grounded in knowledge, not narrative. Randy’s training, discernment, and lived understanding allow us to select matcha with confidence; without exaggeration or compromise.

This partnership reflects what the name Noble Matcha stands for: integrity over trend, learning over assumption, and a commitment to offering matcha that is true to its origin.