Kagetsu!

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 how to do this and it emphasizes teamwork and footwork.  Often kagetsu will be done at Tankokai events.

There are many types of kagetsu.  Sumi tsuki kagetsu where the sumi is laid and thee bowls of usucha are made.  Koicha tsuki kagetsu where the host makes koicha for everyone and also drinks as the last guest and then three bowls of usucha are made.  Koh tsuki kagetsu where everyone listens to incense, writes a short poem and three bowls of usucha are made. There are many other types of kagetsu.

Beginners to kagetsu are often totally confused. The rules seem arbitray, and they say that after doing kagetsu 100 times, it becomes clear as the misty moon.  Once you get the hang of it however, kagetsu can be addicting.  We did kagetsu every other Friday when I was at Midorikai and I have come to love it.

A year ago we started a monthly kagetsu class, and the students are becoming more proficient.  It has become more enjoyable as we have become more familiar with the form, the rules, and how the sequences flow.  We have been doing hira kagetsu, the most basic form, but this coming year we will attempt more complicated forms.  If you have a chance to do kagetsu, please try it!