Japanese Tea Ceremony - MI Tea Tour

The beautiful thing about the world of tea is that there's always something new to learn. When I attended the American Tea Society Conference in 2002 there was a segment on Japanese culture, but the emphasis was more on kimonos worn for the tea ceremony [Elizabeth Knight was dressed step-by-step in a kimono] rather than tea. Observing a traditional Japanese tea ceremony [Chanoyu] was a first for me, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The cost to tour the gardens and observe the tea ceremony [and be served Matcha tea and sweets afterwards] was $10 per person.  The ceremony lasted just over an hour.

At 2:00 o'clock we were welcomed into the tea house.  We passed through the gift area before entering the tea room.

After the the director's welcome and informational comments [yesterday's post], the tea ceremony was ready to begin.

Even though we were observing an informal and simple tea ceremony [chakai] it was not without form and ritual.  The host focused on precise predefined movements and actions, but mainly about preparing a bowl of tea from her heart.  

In the Japanese tea ceremony neither the equipment nor the setting decides its success  as much as the spirit in which the tea is made and served.  To become an accomplished and proficient host one first needs love, secondly dexterity, and thirdly perseverance to be able to do the tasks without a lot of thought. With practice and repetition the proper actions become second nature.

Below is the special preparation table the host was seated at during the ceremony.  The tea equipment [dogu] are:  [L] Cold water container [mizusashi], center - tea caddy [natsume], [R] ladle rest [futa-oki], ladle [hishaku], and a place for the kettle [kama] to set.  The tea scoop [chashaku], tea bowl [chawan], whisk [chasen], and kettle are brought to the table when the ceremony begins.

The ceremony consisted of three ladies - the host who made the tea [teishu] on the right, the host's assistant who served the tea [hantou] on the left, and the guest of honor [shokyaku] in the center. The ceremony begins and ends with a bow.

~  The assistant is seated near the host.  ~

The guest was seated at a table where sweets [kashi] had been placed before the host began preparing the tea. The sweets provide a balance between the bitter taste of the green tea, which is drunk after eating the sweets. 

The photo below shows Yoko, the host, with a purifying or cleaning cloth [fukusa] in her hand. Every item used in the ceremony - the tea caddy, bowl, scoop, whisk, and ladle were wiped with this cloth, and then it was precisely folded and tucked in her Obi [sash]. These cloths are made of linen or silk and come in different colors - typically red is used when serving women, and purple for men. The host neither drinks or eats with the guest.

  

~ Purifying/wiping the ladle. ~

In the photos below Yoko is ladling out hot water from the kettle to prepare the tea, and whisking the Matcha until frothy.

After the tea's preparation by the host, the assistant served it to the guest. 

~ The guest drank it with enjoyment and appreciation. ~

The host then began the process again of wiping each utensil with her cloth, and the three participants concluded the ceremony with a bow.  Just as we believe a formal Afternoon Tea should engage all the senses, the Japanese Tea Ceremony strives to accomplish the same objectives.

After the tea ceremony we were served the same sweets used in the ceremony and a bowl of Matcha tea.

Yoko walked around with her open tea caddy filled with Matcha for us to see.  Matcha is a specially grown and processed green tea that has been finely ground into powder.

Our two sweets were Yokan [left] a thick, jellied dessert made with red kidney bean paste, and Kuri Shigure [right] a cookie-like pastry made with chestnut powder.  Both were good.

Yoko told us we didn't have to feel obligated to drink our entire bowl of Matcha since it is an acquired taste.  I sipped some of mine, but didn't drink it all.  She praised our group saying she could tell we were genuinely interested in the ceremony and wanted to learn about it. We were glad cameras were permitted, because we were all shutterbugs.

[photo courtesy of Nancy R.]

Going to the Japanese Tea House was a wonderful experience I would recommend to anyone living in southeastern Michigan or visiting the area.  I was so glad it was on our itinerary.

Outside the tea house four of us who traveled to England together in 2007 on a London Tea Tour, paused for a photo.  Linda coordinated a Kentucky tea tour in 2014, and now it was my privilege to showcase some of Michigan's best places for tea.

[L-R:  Lori, Nancy, Me, and Linda J.]

Near the tea house, before exiting the cultural center was an Asian rickshaw adorned with fall flowers.

Next post - what we did after leaving the Japanese Cultural Center...

Japanese Cultural Center, Saginaw, MI

I've known about the Japanese Cultural Center in Saginaw for many years, but I never took the opportunity to visit until I began planning the itinerary for the Michigan Tea Tour. Pour yourself a cup of tea as I try to re-create our wonderful visit.

Reservations were made for a 2:00 p.m. traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony [chado - "The Way of Tea"].  It was a beautiful day, and we arrived early, so we decided to stroll part of the three acre Tea Garden [roji] first. Teresa took a picture of me getting a shot of the Japanese Cultural Center sign. 

Sign just before entering the garden.

Two more signs just inside the garden.  The garden opened to the public in 1971.

The two communities of Saginaw, MI and Tokushima, Japan have enjoyed a sister-city status for 55 years.

The beautiful Asian-inspired Gazebo [below], dedicated in 2006, was one of the first things we saw upon entering the garden.

Numerous traditional, ornamental, stone lanterns [toro] set on pedestals, were positioned throughout the garden.

Judith took the photo of me standing next to a stone lantern on the shoreline of Lake Linton.

~ An arched bridge over a gentle, meandering brook. ~

Benches around the garden provide a place to sit and enjoy the beauty and meditate.

The garden epitomized tranquility and serenity with its weeping cherry trees, Japanese yew bushes, pine and other trees.  

~ Side view of Japanese Tea House ~

[Photo courtesy of Nancy R.]

The tea house is in keeping with authentic sukiya-style Japanese architecture, using natural materials to depict quiet elegance with rustic overtones. Nothing is ostentatious or overwhelming to the eyes.  The tea house was designed by architect Tsutomu Takenaka and was constructed in 1985-86 at a cost of $500,000. It was a collaborative effort between Saginaw and its sister city, Tokushima, as a symbol of friendship.  Its foundation rests on part American soil and part Japanese soil that was deeded to Tokushima in 1978.  The Tea house is treasured as one of the most authentic tea houses in North America.  

Yoko Mossner, director of the Japanese Cultural Center and Tea House, welcomed us and was also the tea ceremony host [teishu].  Can you believe she is 83 years old?  She didn't look or act it.  She and the other two celebrants wore traditional Japanese kimonos as they performed the Chanoyu tea ceremony promoting the four key principles of harmony [with nature], respect [with each other], purity [of heart and mind], and tranquility [inner peace]. The mission of the Cultural Center Tea House is to "express intercultural understanding and peace through a bowl of tea."

[Photo of Yoko courtesy of Linda J.]

Inside the tea house [chashitsu] were two tearooms: the Tatami room...

...and the Ryurei room, [where we were seated].

The tatami room has straw mattresses [or mats] called tatamis [hence the name of the room]. Had we gone into the tatami tearoom we would have had to remove our shoes and kneel throughout the ceremony.  Yoko said she used to be able to kneel, but at 83 it's a little harder, so we observed the ryurei-style tea ceremony initiated by the 11th Grand Tea Master in Kyoto while entertaining non-Japanese guests more comfortable sitting on benches or chairs than kneeling.  

There are two types of Japanese tea gatherings: an informal tea gathering [chakai] and a formal one [chaji]. The informal tea gathering is a relatively simple course of hospitality that includes sweets [kashi] and thin Matcha tea [usucha] which has been whipped until frothy. The informal tea gathering was demonstrated for us, after which we were also served.
  
Yoko explained the components of a tearoom:  An alcove [tokonoma] where the hanging scroll [kakemono] and simple floral arrangements [chabana] are displayed. 

The supporting pillar [tokobashira] was from a Cypress tree in Japan.

~ The ceiling was made of woven cedar strips. ~

Yoko said the interior of the tea house was finished by three Japanese carpenters without use of nails.  It had all natural woodwork in keeping with the tea ceremony which also is as close to natural as possible.

Because of this long post the tea ceremony will be separate.