top of page
Search

Hosting My First Formal Chaji: A Memorable Tea Gathering

soryutea

In June, I hosted a formal tea gathering, or Chaji, for Dr. Hirata of Colgate University, who was visiting Kumamoto and my new tea room for the first time. I created a tea kaiseki menu inspired by local specialties, including Basashi (raw horse meat), Karashi renkon (lotus root with Japanese mustard), fresh fish from Amakusa, and premium Japanese sake made in Kumamoto. I tasted and refined several of the dishes multiple times to ensure they were perfect.


Just four days before her visit, we completed the backyard. While I couldn't install a traditional tea garden, I designed a modern Tsubo-niwa that blends well with my house and the neighborhood. I’m quite pleased with how it turned out.


A formal tea gathering often lasts up to four hours, though I believe three and a half hours is ideal. This was my first Chaji conducted entirely by myself. Previously, I had only prepared parts of the Chaji, such as a full tea kaiseki without the charcoal ceremony, or vice versa. This was my first complete Chaji from start to finish, and it took four and a half hours. Maintaining the charcoal fire throughout was particularly challenging.


The intimate atmosphere of Chaji allows a small group of people to spend extended time together, deepening mutual understanding and appreciation for one another's character and knowledge. In Sen no Rikyu’s time, samurai gathered at Chaji as a means of social connection. I am grateful to have had this opportunity to connect deeply with Dr. Hirata through the way of tea. I am deeply appreciative that Dr. Hirata traveled all the way to Kumamoto to share this experience with me.


The phrase "朋遠方より来たる有り亦楽しからずや" is often interpreted as "How enjoyable it is to have friends come from afar and drink together." However, this interpretation is somewhat off. Confucius actually taught that "If you study and make the knowledge your own, enriching your understanding, friends who share the same path will come even from distant places to discuss academic matters. How enjoyable this is!" I hope to continue improving myself so that friends from afar will come to share the way of tea with me.





2 views0 comments

コメント


bottom of page