Japanese Tea Ceremony
Must-know Items for 1st time Tea Ceremony
Hi, everyone. I’m Yukako who currently live in the northern Europe and teaches Japanese tradition such as Tea ceremony, etc. there.
It may be one of your dreams for someone who has been attracted by Japanese traditional culture to attend the “real” tea ceremony in Japan.
So, today I would like to share “must-know” items that you had better bring to the tea ceremony event when you are invited!
“Must-know” Items #1 : White socks (白い靴下)
Trust me! It’s true.
When wearing Kimono (Japanese traditional costume), we also wear tabi socks. Though, we are also allowed to wear usual clothes, then we wear white socks instead of the tabi socks. Make sure they are clean white!!
“Must-know” Items #2 : Okaishi -a paper napkin- (お懐紙)
The paper named Okaishi is used when you eat sweets.
You are provided sweets before drinking a maccha tea. When the host asks you to take sweets, you take out Okaishi and put sweets on it. Please mind that you scatter food particles around!
“Must-know” Items #3 : Kuro moji – a sweet fork – (黒文字)
This item is used when you eat sweets. It looks like a wood tooth pick, and hosts usually prepare them for guests. However, you also can take one made from stainless material and are recommended to bring it, especially to a large size of tea ceremony event.
These 3 items above are basic “Must-know”. If you are lucky enough to go to tea ceremony events, please remember to take these items with you!!