Friday 12/6:
Friday, it was time to experience a second tea ceremony (you can read about my first one here, in Norwegian that is). This time related to the Topics of Japan class, that is a part of the YSEP program. I might have stayed in Japan a bit to long since I am actually getting the chance to do this ceremony two times, while most Japanese people haven’t even done it once, but I guess it is all part of the perk of being a foreigner.
The ceremony took place at Ookayama campus actually. The school has it’s own tea ceremony room, not known to most people. I wonder if all universities have that over here?
As usual it was important to bring socks, and study the etiquette and the rules. It is quite complicated, with loots of details on how to move, bow, drink the tea, fold the napkin, what to say, and so one. I won’t go into everything here, but I can say that I, and everyone else joining the ceremony have a long way to go in being “successful” tea ceremony guests. I can only imagine the complexity all the rules the hosts have to follow.
Anyway, I think the point of the ceremony actually is to relax, believe it or not. If you know the rules by heart, you can follow them without thinking and in a meditative way I guess. Some training in seiza-style sitting is also needed. I couldn’t do that for more than 10 minutes at the time, and for sure not the whole duration of the ceremony.
And at last, here is a picture of all the nice ladies hosting us true the ceremony, all dressed in pretty kimonos I think it is.
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