Most commented posts
- Heart to heart connection — 8 comments
- April update, a Midorikai interlude — 6 comments
- Making a good bowl of koicha — 6 comments
- It is harder than it looks — 6 comments
- Seeing things as they are — 6 comments
You are invited to the Portland International Tea Gathering October 15-20, 2025.
We have an exciting line up for our program and are excited to host you in Portland. The Portland Japanese Garden will be our highlight with 3 seki and a guided tour of the garden. Please consider bringing a tea bowl for …
Permanent link to this article: https://issoantea.com/portland-international-tea-gathering/
Earlier this year after doing a month of chabako for the transition from Ro to furo season, I gave the students an assignment to assemble their own chabako and fill it with found utensils. It was a fun assignment and I also put together a chabako set.
I didn’t want to spend much money for …
Permanent link to this article: https://issoantea.com/tanabata-at-issoan/
The students at Issoan were invited to Shoburo at the East West Chanoyu Center in Seattle Washington. Bonnie Mitchell sensei is my sensei and I wanted my students to meet her. 5 students traveled from Portland to the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Washington where the East West Chanoyu Center has it Zuishin’an tea …
Permanent link to this article: https://issoantea.com/shoburo-in-seattle/
Kagetsu is one of the ensemble tea exercises (games) where 5 people make and drink 4 bowls of tea. Cards or fuda are drawn from a pouch called an orisue to determine who makes tea and who drinks tea. Ka, or flower makes tea, and getsu or moon drinks tea. There are many rules of …
Permanent link to this article: https://issoantea.com/kagetsu/
It is truly spring here in the Pacific Northwest. I have been planting flowers for chabana in my garden for about three years. This year, I am quite happy to say I have been able to pick chabana from my garden every week for okeiko without stealing from my neighbor’s yards.
I used to be …
Permanent link to this article: https://issoantea.com/flowers-flowers-everywhere/