Last week, Issoan Tea and students gave a Chanoyu presentation at the Newberg Camellia Festival. It has been more than two years since we did one of these. In many ways, it felt familiar, but also a little scary and a little intimidating.
We have done this particular festival many times, and the organizers have …
Permanent link to this article: https://issoantea.com/lost-in-temae/
When I do tea presentations at different venues, I need to set up the tatami, shoji and tea room as well as set up the mizuya. It takes about an hour to pack every thing up and load the car, an hour to heat water, clean and set up at the venue, an hour to …
Permanent link to this article: https://issoantea.com/doing-the-work/
During koicha temae, the teishu asks the shokyaku “Ofukukagen wa ikaga desu ka?” How is the tea. Of course out of politeness, it is always “Kekko desu, or Taihen kekko desu” It is good and sufficient. But we need honest feedback in order to improve how we make koicha. One of my students told me …
Permanent link to this article: https://issoantea.com/making-good-bowl-koicha/
I recently had a return visit from someone who came to visit Issoan last year. We served her tea and sweets and treated her as we would any other guest. This time when she came back, she said that she was struck by how open and welcoming the students were. In her experience, tea people …
Permanent link to this article: https://issoantea.com/kokoro-the-heart-of-tea/
The student teacher relationship is so important in Chado. Your teacher is like your parent in that they have brought you up in the world of tea.
My sensei, Minako-sensei, was my first teacher. Even though she passed away 13 years ago, she is still my sensei. When I talk about Sensei, I mean Minako-sensei. …
Permanent link to this article: https://issoantea.com/the-ties-that-bind/
