Winter Tea Ceremony at Anderson Japanese Gardens – January 2012 from Way of Tea on Vimeo.

With the cherry blossoms already fallen, I’m a very late in getting this post finished. In January I had the privilege of attending a garden viewing and tea gathering at Anderson Japanese Gardens in Rockford, Illinois. The tea gathering was hosted by Kimiko Gunji, Professor Emeritus at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. The video captures the tea ceremony portion as well as some inspirational words by Gunji Sensei on the Way of Tea. Below are a few photos I took while walking through the gardens that day. The cold weather made for a very enjoyable, unique garden walk.

Blake ( -_-)_υ

Sen Genshitsu is being named “in recognition of his contribution to peace and culture through the traditional Japanese tea ceremony, and his dedication to the ideals and goals of the Organization”, according to the diploma he will receive during the ceremony.
Read Article →

Ishinomaki: Then and Now

During a trip to tsunami-hit city of Ishinomaki in November, 2011, Paul Johannessen and his crew interviewed a number of survivors and let them tell us about how the recovery is going.
Watch Video →

First exhibition in the U.S. of Japanese master Sugimoto Sadamitsu ceramics opens at Frank Lloyd Gallery

The ceramic work of Japanese master Sugimoto Sadamitsu (b. 1935) is the subject of an exhibition at the Frank Lloyd Gallery, opening February 18. The first comprehensive exhibition in the United States of this renowned artist’s work, it is comprised of sixteen masterworks in the Shigaraki and Iga tradition of high-fired stoneware made for the Tea Ceremony.
Read Article →

Lady Macbeth: A Kabuki Play

Presented in the style of kabuki theatre, Lady Macbeth retells the Scottish Play from the power-driven perspective of the would-be queen. The highly theatrical Japanese style complements the eloquence of Shakespeare’s drama in a production that paints with the visual poetry of kabuki.
View event information and purchase tickets →

Urasenke Chicago Tatezome 2012 – New Year’s Tea Ceremony from way of tea on Vimeo.

On January 29, 2012 The Chicago Urasenke Chapter held its annual Tatezome (New Year’s Tea Gathering) at the Japan Information Center in Chicago.

This video shows the Tatezome tea ceremony in its entirety – a full 30 minutes. It includes tokonoma viewing at the beginning and Haiken (viewing of tea utensils) portion towards the end. The host, hanto (assistant), and guests do an excellent job of demonstrating an authentic tea ceremony with proper etiquette in all its detail. While a little long, it is definitely worth watching!

Blake ( -_-)_υ

Kohei examines Rikyu’s seven essential practices when following The Way of Tea.
Read Article →

Omotesenke guide to Tea Ceremony

The Omotesenke Tea School has a great online guide to Tea Ceremony covering everything from history to etiquette to tea utensils.
Visit Site →

British ‘rakugo’ artist helps Tohoku smile

When the March 11 tsunami wiped out Tohoku coastal towns, British “rakugo” comic storyteller Diane Orrett was at home in Osaka, watching TV footage of the waves obliterating places she had visited and crying, not knowing what to do. But she was immediately presented with a chance to help survivors in the devastated northeast, as organizers canceled all her bookings the day after the Great East Japan Earthquake, deeming rakugo performances to be inappropriate at a time when the whole nation was in a state of shock and bewilderment. Finding her schedule suddenly empty, Orrett, who goes by the stage name Diane Kichijitsu and is also a balloon artist, headed to Miyagi Prefecture in early April for a five-day visit armed with lots of balloons, hoping to use them to put a smile on children’s faces.
Read Article →
What is Rakugo? →

Matsue’s sweets makers take wares to New York

A project launched in 2004 by the city of Matsue, on the Sea of Japan, to promote its local specialty in New York City, is finally bearing fruit. Local businesses and the city’s chamber of commerce recently took a long-awaited step to sell traditional Japanese sweets by launching their second and third outlets in New York.
Read Article →

Ochamori Tea Ceremony

All the tea utensils are giant! I haven’t heard or seen this type of tea ceremony before!
Watch Video →

New Arts of Japan Gallery at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

The new, permanent Arts of Japan Gallery at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, will open to the public on Sunday, February 19. The Japan gallery will be the final installation in a suite of permanent Arts of Asia galleries surrounding Cullinan Hall in the Caroline Wiess Law Building, culminating an effort begun in 2007 to expand the presentation of Asian art at the museum.
Read Article →

The artist is nothing without the gift,
but the gift is nothing without work.
— Emile Zola

I wonder why it is often difficult to follow through with the creative act. The idea exists in my head, but it lacks the accompanying action. Maybe I am afraid of failure. But if I don’t act, I have already failed without even a single chance for success. Maybe measurement of success or failure is the problem. Is not “being” and “doing” inherently more good than simply “knowing” and “existing?” I should embrace mistakes and accidents. Without them I will never grow. After all what good is a gift I keep for myself? Gifts are meant to be given.

Click here to download 1920 x 1200px wallpaper →

Blake ( -_-)_υ

For me the most memorable part of the ceremony actually took place before we began. When Gunji Sensei first came into the tea room she asked us all to take a moment of silence in remembrance of all those who lost loved ones in the tragedy of September 11, 2001 and also in thankfulness for all that we have, despite life’s difficulties.

An interesting kensui (waste water container) was used for the ceremony. Typical I only see kensui made metal or occasionally ceramic. This one was made of bamboo and at the start of the ceremony the tea bowl, chakin, whisk, and tea scoop were brought out inside the kensui. Usually, the kensui is brought out empty with the hisaku (ladle) on top of it. I asked Gunji Sensei about it afterwards. She said this type of ceremony is often performed when it is necessary for the host to remain seated throughout ceremony and not leave the room. The wider bamboo kensui accommodates carrying out all the utensils one time instead of multiple trips to and from the tea room.

Blake ( -_-)_υ

In July, Urasenke Grandmaster, Sen Genshitsu, performed a tea ceremony at the USS Arizona World War II memorial to honor all soldiers who fought and died in the war. Sen Genshitsu actually fought in WWII as a Japanese soldier. He said this tea ceremony in particular was the most memorable of his life.

Sen Genshitsu mentions in his book — Tea Life, Tea Mind — that his goal over the past 50 years as Grandmaster has been to promote “Peacefulness through a Bowl of Tea.” This tea ceremony serves as a powerful example of the peace and reconciliation that is possible when we lay our differences aside and embrace what it means to be human.

Watch an ABC news clip of the event on YouTube!

Part 5: Interview with Drew Hanson – Drew is an Urasenke instructor in the Philadelphia area and has studied Chado for over 15 years.

Part 4: Interview with Michael Ricci – Michael is an Urasenke instructor in Boulder and Fort Collins Colorado area.

Part 3: Interview with Gabriel Cacilua – Gabriel is an Urasenke instructor in Brussels, Belgium and has studied Chado for over 20 years.

Part 2: Interview with Morgan Beard – Morgan is an Urasenke instructor who lectures and performs demostrations in the Philadelphia area.

Part 1: Interview with Rebecca Lynn Craig – Rebecca is a student of Omote-Senke and owner of a tea shop in Ottawa, Canada.]]> http://www.wayoftea.com/2011/01/five-tea-ceremony-interviews/feed/ 1 http://www.wayoftea.com/2010/12/beautiful-tea-ceremony-photos/ http://www.wayoftea.com/2010/12/beautiful-tea-ceremony-photos/#comments Wed, 15 Dec 2010 05:30:21 +0000 Blake Harvey http://www.wayoftea.com/?p=335

I came across a gorgeous set of tea ceremony photos on Ajpscs’s photostream the other day. The majority of the photos are close up images of various chawans (tea bowls) and wagashi (tea sweets) held by graceful hands with rich, vibrant kimonos patterns filling in the backgrounds.

Click here to view a slideshow of all the tea ceremony photos.