Tea Times  February and March 2004

We conduct ongoing weekly classes in the Urasenke tradition of Chanoyu, the Japanese tea ceremony, from beginner to advanced levels. Classes are open to anyone who desires to learn more about this peaceful Japanese art. Events and classes are held in San Francisco.Please Email us to make arrangements to visit a class and have a bowl of tea.

This traditional wagashi, Japanese sweet making, class will feature sakuramochi and kusamochi. Sakuramochi is a traditional sweet served during the spring Doll Festival and the cherry blossom viewing season. We will prepare the Kansai (Kyoto) style sweet using cooked sweet rice grains that are wrapped around sweet bean paste. It is finished by wrapping the sweet in a fragrant salted cherry leaf. Kusamochi has fresh spring yomogi, mugwort, in the outside mochi covering and sweet bean paste on the inside.

This class will include both demonstration and hands-on practice. The freshly made sweets and tea will be served at the end of the class. Easy to follow recipes will also be provided. No prior experience is necessary.

 Hinamatsuri, the Doll Festival, is commonly referred to as the Girl's Day Festival. It was traditionally observed on the 3rd day of the 3rd month according to the lunar calendar and is celebrated on March 3, in modern times. Having early origins in Japan, this festival is also called momo no sekku or the Peach Blossom Festival.

The festival originally took place when the warmth of spring brought with it a little rest time for rural farmers in Japan. Early dolls were simply made of grass or straw in a human likeness. Human ills were transferred to the dolls and they were discarded in the local river as a way of bringing purity. During the Edo period (1603-1868) the dolls became gorgeous art objects in the likeness of the Emperor and Empress, and their court, and were displayed on multi-tiered stands like we see today.

Traditional seasonal sweets, tea and a tenshin style kaiseki meal will be served. This event is open to anyone wishing to enjoy Japanese culture through Chanoyu, the tea ceremony. No prior experience is necessary.

This annual memorial tea will honor Sen Rikyu (1522-1591), the founder of the three Sen schools of Chanoyu including Urasenke. Wabicha, the style of tea that reflects a simple and quiet taste, is the contribution that Rikyu is most remembered for.

Various utensils that reflect his unique style and taste will be featured at this tea. Guests will offer flowers in Rikyu's memory. Incense will also be offered and all of the guests will be able to share in the enjoyment of the incense ceremony. Traditional sweets and koicha, thick tea, will be served.

We will be doing a public tea celebrating tango no sekku, the Boy's Day Festival, at the Nichibeikai Culture Center tearoom in San Francisco. The festival dates from the Heian period and is celebrated in Japan on May 5. It is also called shobu no sekku, the Iris Festival as well as the Children's Day Festival. In earlier times gentlemen of the court wore irises on their head dress and would place iris leaves on palace buildings to protect from illness and evil.

This event will be open to the public with prior reservations. Please watch for further announcements by mail or on our web site www.chanoyu.com.


* Please Email teatimes@chanoyu.com, for more information or to make reservations. Advance payment by mail will confirm your email reservations. As space is limited, cancellations must be made not later than 5-days before each event to receive a refund. Thank you.

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