May 8, 2010
It rehearses with NYAC for the real thing in June. |
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April 24,2010
In tea ceremony enjoying Stony Brooke in the cherry blossoms festival |
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March 29, 2009
Rikyuki: Recalling a Pioneer of Tea
Japanese School Students take part as observers
The Memorial Day observances (Rikyuki) held each year to honor Sen
no Rikyu, the great pioneer of Chanoyu, took place on March 28 at
the Omotesenke SchoolÕs Sohga-an (Koike Sohga Hostess) in Manhattan.
Sen no Rikyu who gave shape to the wabi style of Tea passed away at
the age of 70 on the 28 day of the second month in the old calendar.
Since that time, that date, celebrated on March 28 in the New Calendar,
has become an important event at which all the Sen families that have
inherited his spirit recall what he has left us.
At this yearÕs Rikyuki, 15 people including students of the Koike
Circle and observers from a Long Island Japanese Saturday School took
part. Beginning at 11:00 AM, the group gathered in the tea room where
RikyuÕs death poem was displayed on a scroll in the alcove, "
I raise the sword, This sword of mine, Long in my possession The time
is come at last. Skyward I throw it up!" (D.Suzuki trans.), an
offering of tea was made in a Tenmoku tea cup and the group enjoyed
thin tea in memory of Rikyu. Thereafter, the tea gathering continued
over a home-made meal.
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January
31 2009
Hatsugama at Sohga-an
Enjoying the flavor of the New Year
At the Sohga-an in New York City, 16 participants gathered for the
Hatsugama (literally, the "first kettle") of the New Year.
Sohga Koike hosted the Omotesenke-style celebration which began at
11:00 am. The Hatsugama is the first practice of the New Year, and
the guests took the opportunity to exchange stories about the happenings
of the New YearÕs holidays with friends they had not seen in some
time.
In an alcove in the facing wall of the tea room, a scroll and the
traditional arrangement of slender willow branches elegantly coiled
in a circle together with a single Winter Camellia were on display.
The scroll, inscribed by Murasakino Shodo, the head monk of the Zuiho-in
in the Daitokuji, read, "All through the forest, spring has arrived
and the warblers are singing." All together, the arrangements
suggested the expectations and resolutions of the New Year. After
enjoying thin tea to begin with, the hostess prepared thick tea using
Tanzan MorimotoÕs tea caddy named, "Sazareishi," a tea scoop
in the style favored by Sen no Rikyu named "Chiyo no Kotobuki,"
and matched utensils with a design of Nonomura Ninsei. Next, everyone
enjoyed a home-style lunch and finished the day with a drawing of
gifts that the hostess had prepared for everyone.
Outside a cold wind was blowing, but within, the group enjoyed the
hostessÕ warm hospitality and a taste of spring. With the inauguration
of the Easter Region Branch planned for June of 2010 and many preparations
facing the group, all agreed that the name of the Tea Caddy, "Sazareishi,"
a boulder formed by the joining of many smaller pebbles, was an appropriate
theme for the day and that the group needed to nurture that spirit
during the year. |
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November
22, 2006
Masako Koike, head of the Sohga-an, invited The Reverend Kenjitsu
Nakagaki of the New York Buddhist Church, Mr. Jiro Okuyama, Director
of Japan Information Center at Consulate General of Japan in New York,
Mr. Yuichi Ozawa, Chairman of Shofuso in Philadelphia and other guests
to Noon Tea Gathering at the Sohga-san. It was the first time any
of these guests had participated in a Tea Ceremony. But with adjustments
to the normal order so the guests could practice with thin tea first,
then enjoy thick tea, they all seemed to enjoy Chanoyu. By the time
lunch had arrived from the Nippon Club, all were deep in conversation
about the riches of JapanÕs traditional culture. |
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October
29, 2006
At the Princeton Classroom, we held a Noon Tea Gathering. Noon Tea
is the basis for all other Tea gatherings, so that when one has mastered
Noon Tea, it becomes easier to understand Morning Tea, Moon Viewing
Tea and so on. Admiring the last of the fall foliage, we spent 4 hours
in study and enjoyment. It made everyone realize again our day-to-day
practice throughout the year was in preparation for events such as
this. |
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October
14, 2006
At the Hammond Museum and Japanese Stroll Garden in Westchester County,
we presented a demonstration Chanoyu to an audience of American guests.
A total of 30 people joined us in morning and afternoon sessions. |
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October
7, 2006
At Kids International Weekend School in New Jersey, the 6th graders
gathered to observe a demonstration of Chanoyu. 10 6th Graders sat
on the tatami while Mr. Nakamura, the Principal, teachers, parents
and younger students observed from chairs. The children who are normally
in constant motion sat quietly for the Ceremony and seemed impressed
by the richness of Japanese traditional culture. |
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May
25, 2006
As one of the program events in a symposium on US-Japan relations
held at Mary Washington University, Fredericksburg, VA, Sohga Koike
demonstrated for the symposium participants and University students
how thin tea is prepared. It was the first demonstration in a part
of the country that has little exposure to Japanese culture, but the
observers followed the demonstration intently and judged that it was
the most easily understood introduction to Japanese culture in the
whole symposium. |
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