Montana State University Tea Culture Seminar

Recently, I had the pleasure of hosting a Tea Culture Seminar for a group from Montana State University — 16 students and 3 faculty members eager to explore Japanese tea culture and its traditional customs.

The seminar opened with a presentation on the history of matcha and the broader arc of Japanese tea culture: how tea journeyed from a medicinal drink to a profound cultural practice that continues to shape Japanese society today.

From there, participants moved into a tea tasting, sampling both green tea and hojicha side by side. Comparing the two — their aromas, flavors, and textures — gave everyone a sensory entry point into understanding how production methods and cultural context shape the character of each tea.

The hands-on highlight of the afternoon was nerikiri-making. These delicate, handcrafted Japanese confections are traditionally served at tea gatherings, and shaping them by hand offered a direct encounter with the Japanese aesthetic values of beauty, seasonality, and craftsmanship. The students brought wonderful creativity and enthusiasm to the task.

The seminar closed with an introduction to tea room etiquette — how to enter a traditional tea room and how to move on tatami mats. These gestures may appear simple, but they are quietly meaningful: each one expresses the respect, mindfulness, and consideration for others that lie at the heart of the tea ceremony.

It was a joy to watch participants engage so genuinely — asking thoughtful questions, embracing unfamiliar customs, and finding their own connection to this centuries-old practice.

I'm delighted to announce that I will be welcoming Montana State University again next May. Building on this year's experience, the program will go deeper into tea ceremony etiquette: how to receive and enjoy traditional sweets, how to show respect to the host and fellow guests, and how these quiet conventions work together to create a sense of harmony within the tea room.

The Japanese tea ceremony is far more than the preparation and drinking of tea. It is a living practice of mindfulness, gratitude, and genuine human connection. I look forward to sharing these values with the next group of participants and to continuing to build cultural bridges through the Way of Tea.

My sincere thanks to the students and faculty of Montana State University for making this seminar so warm, memorable, and meaningful.