The following are some of the basic items we use in tea ceremony. There are many more items, and they can vary considerably by the tradition one practices, Omotesenke, Urasenke, Mushanokojisenke, etc. While I practice Omotesenke tea, I have also included a few examples from other schools. In most of the photos you can see […]
A teahouse meant to be, in the Penryn countryside
March 28, 2020 by Leave a Comment
When Sumie Ward arrived in Los Angeles in 1959, she had no idea she would eventually become a meiyo shihan (distinguished master) in the Urasenke tradition of Japanese tea ceremony. She was more concerned about her soon-to-be-born first child and establishing her roots in a country where most people did not speak Japanese. “The American […]
Tea for two
March 31, 2018 by Leave a Comment
In San Francisco’s Outer Richmond district, Larry Sokyo Tiscornia, 69, and Kimika Soko Takechi, 68, teach tea as members of San Francisco Urasenke Tankokai. The couple met while taking Saturday tea classes with Soko Kobara, founder of the Tankokai, and have since been together, teaching all aspects of the traditional Japanese tea ceremony. Prior to […]
THE GOCHISO GOURMET: A spot of tea
April 27, 2017 by Leave a Comment
From one single plant, almost every culture has a beverage based on the dried leaves of Camellia sinensis, whether it’s the drink of choice for the average Brit’s afternoon ritual, tea for the formal chanoyu (tea ceremony) or somewhere in between. In the case of the Gochiso Gourmet, it’s the rum cocktail. But tea has […]
Forging a path for tea ceremony in the United States
April 3, 2015 by Leave a Comment
The Urasenke tradition of tea ceremony in the San Francisco Bay Area is strongly affiliated with the Kobara family. Meiyo Shihan (Distinguished Master) Soko Kobara and her late husband Seiji Kobara co-founded the Chado Urasenke Tankokai San Francisco Association 55 years ago and have been an instrumental part of the Urasenke tradition of tea in […]
OMOTESENKE: The appreciation of tea
April 5, 2013 by Leave a Comment
It is customary when greeting guests to first serve tea in typical Japanese custom. This longtime tradition of Japanese etiquette and culture is, at its core, an artform that concentrates on fulfilling the role of being an excellent host, says John Larissou, tea instructor for the Omotesenke school of tea. “The term ‘tea ceremony’ is […]
San Francisco’s ‘jewel’ shines at grand opening of Jack Hirose Tea House
October 27, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Since Carol Murata took over as the concessionaire of the Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park in 2009, the destination point has experienced a brilliant renovation, thanks in large part to a generous donation from late philanthropist Jack Hirose. Murata aims to provide an authentic and attractive locale for visitors. The tea […]
Soba cha
January 28, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Huddled over my laptop and nursing my cold with a warm roasty mug of soba cha (buckwheat tea) I was all set to write a bit about goma dofu (sesame tofu). I tried and tried to psych myself up to write about cold tofu but instead ended up daydreaming and reveling in the aroma of my tea. […]
Connect & Share