The Taketori Kaguya's Sakura Tea Gathering
(Kochi Forest Synthesis Center Information Exchange Hall)
At the remarkable rural facility, Kochi Forest Synthesis Center, each participant crafted a tea bowl from fresh bamboo and prepared and savored matcha in their self-made bowls. Amid the full bloom of mountain cherry blossoms, we relished an outdoor tea ceremony.
Participants began by washing the fresh bamboo, then seared the surface with a burner for oil removal - an 'aburanuki' process that helps prevent bamboo rot by drying and removing its oily surface. After cutting the bamboo, they carved the rim with a knife and finished their creations by sanding them. The soothing scent of fresh bamboo and the camaraderie among participants created a serene atmosphere during the activity. Sakura mochi and hanami dango sweets were served in handmade bamboo dishes, and the powdered matcha tea was placed in bamboo-crafted tea containers, presented on trays made from sliced logs. Even the tanzaku and floral arrangement containers were handmade. This experience reminded us that bamboo alone can enable a tea ceremony.
Some participants showed interest in the historical relationship between bamboo and the tea ceremony. We hope this event helped raise awareness about the issue of neglected bamboo groves.