Tea is not just a hot drink in Japan. It’s a choreographic ritual that has a lot of meaning within the culture. The tea ceremony represents purity, tranquility, respect, and harmony. Let us discover more about the art of tea drinking in Japan.

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The Japanese Tea Ceremony

The Japanese tea ceremony is called chanoyu, or sado, while the art and performance of preparing and presenting matcha powdered green tea is called otemae.

There are two types of Japanese tea ceremonies: Chakai (an informal tea ceremony) and Chaji (a formal tea ceremony). Chakai, a typical tea ceremony gathering, has a duration of only 45 minutes even though the training takes years. Chaji, is a long ceremony that involves the participation of senior tea masters and the service of traditional kaiseki meals which can last up to 4 hours.

Tea Ceremony Steps

The tea ceremony consists of the preparation of the tearoom, sweets, and the tea itself.  Each step of the preparation has fixed movements, and utensils must be placed properly on the Tatami mat with a lot of spiritual depth and a deep silence and serenity.

The first step is to take off shoes before going into the waiting room of the tea house.  Then ritually purified at a stone basin by washing hands and rinsing mouths before entering the tatami-mat room.  The next step is to sit in the seiza kneeling position and the tea master will begin the ceremony by cleaning the utensils meticulously and in a precise order.  The tea is prepared in a kettle over a charcoal fire and the final brew is poured into a bowl that is handed to the most important guest first.  The next recipient will have to raise the bowl with respect to the tea master, taking a sip, and compliment the master the pass on to the next with the same procedure.

Tea Philosophy

Wa, Kei, Sei, Jaku – “harmony, respect, purity, tranquility.”

Wa stands for harmony.  Harmony will bring quality into the tea room.  Utensils used during the tea ceremony are also in harmony with each other.

Kei stands for respect.  Respect must be shown to all things and all matters without minding the status and position in life.

Sei stands for purity. Crawling into the tea room, one is to leave behind all thoughts and worries of daily life.  This makes the tea ceremony the purest ceremony you can experience.

Jaku stands for tranquility.  Tranquility can be experienced after harmony, respect, and purity.

Tea Ceremony Tools

Chasen: Tea whisk made from a single piece of bamboo

Chashaku: Tea scoop made from bamboo or ivory

Chawan: Decorated tea bowl. See Fun Facts for more information.

Hishaku: Ladle used to pour water made out of bamboo

Kaiseki: Delicate meal sometimes eaten during a tea ceremony

Kama: Iron pot used for hot water

Matcha: Bitter green tea prepared in a powdered form

Natsume: The decorated tea jar that the green tea comes in

Shokyaku: The main guest or guest of honour at the tea ceremony

Tatami: The type of mat found in a tea house Teishu: The host of the tea ceremony

The tea ceremony is not as simple as we think it is. It is a process with years of experience to be able to master the way of tea. There are a lot of schools in Japan that can let you experience making tea.

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