ZANSHIN* IN ELITE WARRIOR-STYLE TEA
Today, the healing effect of application of zanshin calms the mind, and quite noticeably soothes the body, thereby alleviating stress and tension – ills that, in the present, constantly threaten our own wellbeing.
BASIC KAISEKI MANNERS
Without the cook, you won't have food. Without the waitresses, the food would remain in the kitchens. And without YOU, there would be no use for the chef to prepare food. But that makes no one more or less important to the occasion. The elementary courtesy when enjoying a traditional kaiseki meal is to show consideration for the other people part of this occasion. Be thoughtful of ways to make it easy for them to do their job. In the end, the better they can do their job, the more you get to enjoy your evening.
BEST PLACES TO SEE CHERRY BLOSSOMS IN KYOTO
This article offers a list of our suggestions for places to visit in Kyoto during cherry blossom viewing season. My personal suggestion is to aim for the end of the season when the cherry petals float through the air and elegantly dance their way to the ground. This is a phenomenon that is often alluded to in classical poetry, and that captures the Japanese preference to savour beauty not at its prime, but in the transitional periods.
KIREI SABI – THE JAPANESE AESTHETIC OF ELEGANT BEAUTY
Enshū's personal style and aesthetic preference inhabited all layers of the rite of tea, leaving a distinct mark on the history of the practice as a whole. His influence ranged from garden design and architecture, to the new creation of implements for use in the service of tea. Tea scoops, flower vases, tea bowls, etc. were affixed with motifs and forms of his choosing.
WHAT IS THE MEANING OF WABI SABI
Wabi-sabi is a term that is often used to allude to rustic simplicity and the art of imperfection in our lives. The term has its roots in the Japanese rite of tea, but is used today more often outside its original context. The notion itself has received a place in today’s society as a mode of thought that should help us to live life more mindfully and aware of the inherent (yet imperfect) beauty of the things surrounding us. Needless to say that such interpretations fail to grasp the original meaning of wabi-sabi. This article aims to clarify what wabi-sabi is and how it should be understood.
BASIC JAPANESE TEA CEREMONY ETIQUETTE
Learn Japanese Tea Ceremony Etiquette from a Tea Master. A Tea Master explains the 5 Things you should know, before attending a traditional tea ceremony.
ABOUT THE SHUKŌ TEA GATHERING IN NARA
Every year during the second week of February - and this year for the 5th year, the Juko Tea Gathering: Nara Tea Congress is held. The event extends over the span of one whole week, and is hosted throughout Nara city at a total of 8 different temples and shrines. I, together with my tutor Stephen Sōshun participate in this gathering every year.
A RESPECTFUL FOREIGN INTERPRETATION OF THE TEA CEREMONY – BY TERRIE LLOYD
An interpretation of tea ceremony, by Terrie Lloyd, a long-term technology and media entrepreneur living in Japan. (This article was published on Terrie's Take, a bi-weekly focused look at the…
TEA GATHERING FOR THE WORLD FORUM ON SPORT AND CULTURE
We were invited by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), and the Grandmaster to aid with the smooth progression of the service and to provide translation to our foreign audience from an educated insider point of understanding.
