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  1. Heart to heart connection — 8 comments
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You have just two hands

All those rows of tools For cutting and chopping wood You have just two hands

My husband is a woodworker and he has an impressive amount of tools in the shop for cutting and chopping wood. From large table saws with impressive blades to tiny knives and files. Yet he can only use his two …

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Permanent link to this article: https://issoantea.com/you-have-just-two-hands/

Robiraki 2014

On November 9, 2014 Issoan Tea School celebrated the opening of the winter hearth with Robiraki. There were 3 seki of 4 people each. A real charcoal fire was laid to heat the water. Because charcoal is so hard to import from Japan, and is so very expensive, we seldom get to see the fire …

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Permanent link to this article: https://issoantea.com/robiraki-2014/

Rikyu’s futaoki

We have been practicing with a variety of dogu this year in the intermediate classes. I have a bronze set of the 7 futaoki supposedly favored by Rikyu. (Rikyu no nanashu no futaoki). A futaoki is a kettle lid rest, and also can be used to rest the hishaku. These are ways to handle …

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Permanent link to this article: https://issoantea.com/rikyus-futaoki/

Matcha and funayaki

Permanent link to this article: https://issoantea.com/matcha-and-funayaki/

My first chakai

I’d like to introduce to you a guest blogger, Stephanie. She is a student and has been studying for more than 2 1/2 years. Earlier this year, she put on her first chakai:

Earlier this year I hosted my first chakai (tea gathering) for a fellow student who was returning to Japan. It was fitting …

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Permanent link to this article: https://issoantea.com/my-first-chakai/