On June 7th, we hosted a tea ceremony workshop at the FEWture Conference, organized by FEW Japan. The conference, attended by women excelling in various fields from around the world, conducted its sessions in English. The venue was a chapel in the Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi, where we placed two tatami mats on the carpet, set up a portable brazier and a shelf with a snowflake design, hung a scroll, and adorned the table with flowers.

After a brief introduction, we invited participants to immerse themselves in the tranquility of the tea ceremony, deliberately minimizing explanations during the demonstration. One participant was invited to sit on the tatami next to the main guest.

We explained the meanings behind the phrase "Tea and Zen are one" (茶禅一味) displayed on the scroll, as well as other phrases commonly associated with tea ceremonies, such as "Harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility" (和敬清寂). After the first serving of matcha, we invited participants to prepare their own tea for the second serving. For those fluent in or studying Japanese, we gave bilingual tips on the whisking techniques using the letters 'M' and 'W', and for those familiar with hiragana, using 'い' and 'り', concluding with 'の' or 'O'.

Participants asked numerous questions and shared comments, expressing sentiments like, "I've lived in Japan for 20 years and this is my first tea ceremony experience," "I was delighted to see the tea bowl served for me matched my shirt," and "Does the taste of tea differ by region?". Inquiries were also made about the long-term training involved in pursuing tea ceremony mastery.

The tea ceremony is a comprehensive art form that encapsulates the spirit of hospitality and Japanese traditional culture, offering many elements that sustain long-term engagement. It refines the senses and fosters mindfulness, allowing one to confront oneself. The relationship between host and guests is also profoundly interesting.

With repeated practice, numerous realizations emerge. The practice reveals more than just formalities; the more one learns, the more one is drawn to delve deeper.

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