Author: Tome
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Chakai (茶会)
A chakai is a Japanese tea gathering where guests enjoy tea and seasonal hospitality in one or more tea rooms. It may include separate sessions for usucha (thin tea), koicha (thick tea), and a light meal called tenshin (boxed refreshments), or it may consist of several usucha tea rooms. Chakai range from informal gatherings to…
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Teicha (呈茶)
Teicha refers to the serving of tea to guests, often at temples, gardens, museums, cultural events, or special occasions. Unlike a formal tea gathering, it focuses on offering a welcoming tea experience, usually with a sweet, allowing visitors to enjoy a taste of Japanese tea culture in a casual setting.
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Kissako — Have a Cup of Tea
Before the rainy season had begun, I had the opportunity to help at a Teicha hosted by the local tea association to which my teacher belongs. From early in the morning, four of us took turns serving as host or assistant host, welcoming each guest with a bowl of tea. The seasonal sweet prepared by…
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Ippuku — A Moment for Tea
Few Japanese people would say they look forward to tsuyu, Japan’s rainy season. Unlike the gentle rain that nourishes nature throughout the year, the air during this rainy season feels heavy. As the humidity rises, my body seems to grow heavier too, and every year I find myself struggling with the change in weather. Last…
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Tsuyu (梅雨)
Japan’s rainy season, typically lasting from early June to mid-July. It is known for frequent rain, high humidity, lush greenery, and blooming hydrangeas.
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Toyosu Market — A Day of Learning About Ingredients
Almost six years have passed since Tokyo’s Central Wholesale Market relocated from Tsukiji to Toyosu. Although I had hoped to visit sooner, the opportunity never seemed to align—until recently. Many of the ingredients used in Kaiseki (traditional tea ceremony meal) are difficult to find in regular supermarkets, so I was excited from the moment I…
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Tea Picking in Sayama — A Day of Learning Through Taste and Handwork
On a sunny Sunday in June, I visited Sayama for the first time to experience tea picking with friends. Sayama is known as one of Japan’s three major tea regions, and it is surprisingly accessible from central Tokyo. On this particular day, we were given a special program that allowed us to enjoy both tea…
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Seasonal Fruit Daifuku — Cherry
In mid-June, I usually finish my grocery shopping through an online supermarket, but that day I felt like taking a short walk and headed to a nearby market. The seasonal fruits displayed were beautiful, though a little outside my budget. Feeling slightly disappointed, I checked the discount corner—and there I found perfectly ripe American cherries.…