Today was a very special day for Marlon and I. We attended a tea ceremony with Teresa. The tea ceremony will be the last for Michal who has been in the group a little over a year. Today is her farewell party and a Welcome to Japan party for Marlon and I. My friend Teresa was first to practice her tea ceremony for a big event coming up this weekend. The tea ceremony is a ritual of preparing and serving Japanese green tea, called matcha together with traditional Japanese sweets to balance the bitterness of the tea. Preparing tea in a ceremony means pouring all one's attention into the movements. The whole process is not about drinking tea but about making the tea from the heart for the guest. The host of the ceremony always considers every movement and gesture. Even the placement of the is considered from the guest's view. The main guest is called the Shokyaku.
This is the kettle they use to perform making the green tea and the container beside it holds the water to make the green tea.
Items needed in making the tea for the ceremony. The red container holds green tea.
I really liked the wooden framed bamboo vases behind the kettle. I'm hoping Marlon can make this for me for our house.
This sweet was given to Marlon and I during the practice of the tea ceremony.
Marlon is receiving tea and sweet from Keiko who is practicing for upcoming events.
After tea ceremony practice the sensei showed up a thing she wears to relieve aches in her feet. Wow, I have never seen this before, she says it helps stretch her feet which helps them from not cramping up.
The members that came today brought a spread of food for the party.
This is the group of people who came to practice today and for the farewell and welcome to Japan party. Sensei of the group is 2nd from right on the bottom row.
Teresa made some great tasting punch bowl cake. Yummy it was a hit at the party.
Since its boys day this month the sensei gave Marlon warrior helmets she made using origami technique.
Teresa and her tea sensei.
