We recently participated in the local radio program, "Creating the Future of Oimachi Lab," a collaborative initiative between the Isagai Lab. of Keio University Shonan Fujisawa Campus and the community FM station "FM Shinagawa."

This program explores the present and future of Oimachi and its residents, highlighting the area's charm and potential through the unique perspective of the Isagai Lab. Our nonprofit corporation, Kissako Cha Know You, which organizes the "Japanese Tea Experience in Oimachi," was invited to participate as guests for the month of August.

Alongside us were two students from the Kawamura Seminar at Rissho University's School of Business Administration near Oimachi, with the show hosted by members of the Isagai Lab., Mr. Ouchi and Ms. Kobayashi. All guests, experiencing radio for the first time, managed to relax a bit by enjoying some matcha tea during the live session.

The live broadcast discussed how Priest Takuan contributed to the tea ceremony and featured the actual preparation and enjoyment of matcha tea, emphasizing the auditory experience of the tea room—sounds like pouring water, whisking matcha, and the final sip were shared. We showcased tea ceremony utensils with connections to Oimachi, including a hanging scroll by Priest Genkai Chiyoda of Hakusen-ji, a lacquered container by Katsushige Tanaka, a tea bowl by Genji Iwata, and a tea scoop by Mika Iwata. We also touched on how we started Kissako Cha Know You and its activities as well as the history of Oimachi.

During the program, we had the pleasure of hearing from Ms. Kobayashi, who participated in our "Japanese Tea Experience in Oimachi" in July, sharing her reflections on her first tea ceremony experience.

The radio program, broadcasted in Japanese, aired live on the first Wednesday of August, with reruns every Wednesday at 6 PM throughout the month. The broadcasts are also available online.

For a detailed article on the program, please visit: https://oimachi-keio.com/pj/ikigaku/fm53/

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