Naito Ayu
Kiyokawa Yukako
"I am thinking of having a tea ceremony for the first time in the tea room I built at home. Would you like to come, Joi?"
One day, Joi received this delightful email from a long-time friend.
It turns out that they had built a new tea room utilizing the old materials from a 100-year-old house, but they never got around to holding a tea ceremony there. It had been sitting unused for 10 years. They had heard about Joi’s recent interest in tea ceremony and hoped he could breathe some life into it.
This was Joi’s first time being invited to a "sekibiraki" (the inaugural tea ceremony in a newly built tea room). Amidst a mix of anticipation and nervousness, we visited their home, where the host and their family welcomed us with warm smiles.
As we passed through the tasteful gate, we were guided by the vivid greenery. There, in a place that was hard to believe was in the middle of Tokyo, we found ourselves surrounded by a sense of tranquility and spaciousness.
After greeting everyone, the tea party began in a relaxed atmosphere.
The sweets were Kinton from Wagashi Taichi. Their beautiful colors reminded me of the fresh greenery I had just seen in the garden.
As we enjoyed the sweets, the host explained that all of today's tea utensils had been passed down from his mother. The gentle and soft design of the utensils gave us a glimpse into her personality.
"If you would like, Joi-san, I would be delighted if you could make tea for us," the host offered.
His words left Joi momentarily perplexed, but he graciously accepted the opportunity to offer everyone a cup of tea.
After the tea ceremony, we went to the living room, a space with a strong sense of history that retains clear traces of the main building. The room, relocated to make use of old timber, has an atmosphere as if time has stood still.
Old beams, pillars, shoji screens and other items that have been handed down from previous generations are carefully protected and used.
I was deeply moved by their unwavering dedication to cherishing and utilizing these inherited treasures, a sentiment that seems to be shared by many Japanese people.
The warm hospitality of all the family members and the thoughtfully preserved space made this tea ceremony a truly blissful occasion. It was an unforgettable day and an honor to have been present at the inauguration of the tea room. The experience served as a poignant reminder of the depth of the tea ceremony and the heartfelt sentiments that go into it.
Photo by Naito Ayu
Text by Kiyokawa Yukako
