the content of a kaiseki meal

*the content of a kaiseki meal
1. boiled rice
2. soup with one or two ingredients
3. sashimi, or raw seafood
4. combined dish of vegetables mixed with flavorings
5. simmered vegetables and seafood
6. broiled vegetables, seafood or poultry
7. seafood and vegetables pickled in salt or dried *The characteristics of kaiseki cuisine
1. fish, shellfish, and poultry are used, but beef and pork are not
2. the main and side ingredients are mostly items that evince the season.
3. the way the flavorings and seasonings are used brings out the natural flavors of the ingredients
4. For the same reason as point 3 above, the flavoring is relatively light.
5. There are few pan-fried and deep-fried food; rather, broiled and simmered foods predominate
6. The way the foods are dished is attractive, giving though to the arrangement of the foods and the dish itself.
7. There are numerous foods, but none in great amount
8. SAKE(rice wine) is served, and those who like it may drink so far as they do not get drunk

@ The rice, soup, and sashimi served at the beginning. The chopsticks,made of cedar, are called RIKYU-BASHI(利休箸)

@ Preserved foods, they are serve as tidbits to go with SAKE.

** The use of many kinds and style of implements

*implements necessary for chanoyu

Many implements are necessary in order to make tea and serve it to a guest according to the temae procedures of chanoyu, and those implements are made of various materials and come from different places. Firstly, here is a list of the main types and materials of these implements.

1. Items to decorate the alcove

Hangings(掛軸) - hanging scrolls featuring paintings or calligraphy

Flower containers(花入) - ceramics, metal,wood,bamboo,basketry

Incense containers(香合) - ceramics, lacquerware,etc

2. Temae implements

Furo(風炉,brazier for the charcoal fire over which to set the kettle) - Metal,earthenware

Kettle(釜) - Metal(iron)

Hearth frame(炉縁,frame around the RO fire pit) - Wood or bamboo, lacquer ware

Portable shelving(棚,shelving on which some of the implements are displayed) - Wood or bamboo

Water container(水指) -Metal, ceramic, wood,glass

Container for tea powder for KOICHA(茶入,CHAIRE) - Ceramic

Container for tea powder for usuha(棗,NATSUME) - Lacquer ware

Tea bowl(茶碗,bowl in which the tea is made and from which it is drunk) - Ceramic, glass, etc.

Tea scoop(茶杓) - bamboo, wood,ivory

Tea whisk(茶筅) - bamboo

Water ladle(柄杓,to scoop the hot or cold water) - bamboo

Lid rest(蓋置,for resting the kettle lid on) - Metal, ceramic,wood, bamboo

Rinse(建水)-water receptacle - Metal, ceramic,wood,bamboo

Charcoal implements(炭道具,articles for the charcoal-laying temae)- Metal, ceramic,wood,bamboo,basketry,feathers

Smoking set(煙草盆), including Japanese smoking pipe(kiseru),lighter container, and ash receptacle-Metal, ceramic,wood,bamboo,lacquer ware

Container for confections(菓子器) - Ceramics,lacquer ware,wood,bamboo

When preparing to hold a formal chanoyu gathering, it is also necessary to have the implements that are required for the cuisine and for the ROJI(露地,garden path).

As we can see, the chadogu are wide-ranging. They are selected according to the reason and the purpose of the gathering, and also so that they balance harmoniously. This coordination of the implements is called 'dogugumi'(道具組み), and it is among the things that the host of a chakai gives greatest thought to.

* The places where chanoyu implements come from

In that the method of drinking matcha entered Japan from song-dynasty China, the implements used for it, such as the tea bowls from which to drink it, at first were of Chinese origin. Japan in those days took the advanced nation of China as its model, and Japanese people esteemed the products imported from that country, referring to them as KARAMONO(TANG items). The MUROMACHI shogun family eagerly bought many KARAMONO,hung such imported paintings and displayed Chinese vases and incense burners and such on the shelves and so forth. Chanoyu implements from China also were considered the best.

As chanoyu developed, however, the sense of values changed dramatically. It became necessary for the chadogu to meet the ideals of wabisuki(侘数寄), and consequently domestic items(called wamono), thsubtly colored ceramics made on the Korean peninsula(koraimono), and miscellaneous items from southeast Asia(nanbanmono) were looked upon with new value.

Such implements have been carefully passed on to this day in chanoyu, and currently there are eight example of karamono ceramics( five of which are tea bowls) and one koraimono tea bowl that are registered as national treasures in Japan.

Entering the 17th century, pottery began to be produced in many parts of Japan, including wares for chanoyu. the main potteries include, among others, KAratsu(唐津焼) ware of Saga prefecture in Kyushu, Hagi(萩焼) ware of YAMAGUCHI prefecture, BIZEN(備前焼) ware of OKAYAMA prefecture, Kyoto ware of Kyoto, ShiGARAKI(信楽焼) ware of SHIGA prefecture, SETO(瀬戸焼) ware of AICHI prefecture, and MINO(美濃焼) ware of Gifu prefecture. Also, the RAKU(楽家) family of kyoto produced RAKu tea bowls especially for chanoyu use, and this continues to the present day.

As indicated above, chanoyu implements are not limited to ceramics, but include many items made of lacquer ware, metal, bamboo, and so on. The production of chadogu without a doubt propelled the development of a great range of Japanese crafts.