Date & Time: Tuesday, May 7, 2024 9:00 a.m.- 1:30 p.m.
Spot: Tsuzuki Minka-en（Folk House Garden）
Participants: nine mothers of Saint Maur International School, who are from England, China, Singapore, South Korea, India, Spain, and Czech Republic
Guides: eight KSGG members
Languages: Japanese, English
KSGG has been organizing events since 2013 for the guardians of students at Saint Maur School, the oldest international school in Asia, located in the Yamate district of Yokohama, offering them opportunities to experience Japanese culture. The Yukata Tea Ceremony, one of such events, was held on this day.
In light rain, nine mothers from Saint Maur School participated in the yukata tea ceremony held at the Tsuzuki Minka-en. This venue is an eight-minute walk from Center-Kita Station on Yokohama Municipal Subway. The area has been developed into a park surrounding the Otsuka Saikachido Ruins, dating back to the Yayoi period. Within the park are a well-preserved village headman’s residence from the Edo period and a tea room, collectively known as Tsuzuki Minka-en.
First, the participants got dressed in yukatas prepared by KSGG staff. The traditional Japanese sakura patterns were particularly popular. Dressed in colorful yukatas, the participants smiled brightly as they posed for photos in front of the thatched-roof building.
Afterward, they enjoyed an authentic tea ceremony in the tea room. As the tea ceremony started, another KSGG staff member explained the history of tea. Tea was brought from China during the Heian period by a Zen Buddhist monk Eisai, who incorporated it Zen training. Later, in the 16th century, Sen Rikyu, the tea master, introduced the concept of wabi-sabi*1, shaping the tea ceremony into its current form.
Before the host began serving the tea, another KSGG member explained the proper way to enjoy the sweets and the tea. In a tea ceremony, sweets are eaten before drinking the tea. The sweets are placed on a paper napkin (kaishi). Guests are supposed to take the sweets with both hands, bow, and then eat them. Afterward, the tea is served. Drinking tea after the sweets enhances its flavor.
Although the participants were very interested in the Japanese tea ceremony, they were unable to maintain the traditional Japanese sitting posture and chose to sit more comfortably. However, they adhered to the etiquette of the difficult sitting style while drinking the tea.
While they changed into their own clothes after the tea ceremony, lively conversations in English, Japanese, and other languages filled the air. Despite the continuous rain, which unfortunately led to the cancellation of the planned tour of the bamboo grove and ruins in the park, the participants’ cheerful smiles brightened the atmosphere, making everyone forget the gloominess of the rainy day.
*1 Wabi-sabi is a Japanese aesthetic and philosophical concept that finds beauty in imperfection, transience, and simplicity. Rikyu’s approach to the tea ceremony emphasized the appreciation of imperfect and humble objects, reflecting the core ideas of wabi-sabi.
