Japanese traditional -CHAKAI

Serving a bowl of tea and reaching out to guests... In Japan, tea ceremonies are held to create a bond between the participants. At a formal tea ceremony,guests first pass through the garden to ready the tea house. Before entering, they pause at a shelter fitted with a bench and enjoy the view of the garden. This allows them to put themselves in the right frame of mind for the tea ceremony ahead. As they walk through the garden, the guests reach the TSUKUBAI, a stone water basin.

Here, they rinse their hands and mouths, purifying both body and spirit before entering the tea room. the guests enter the tea house through a very low and narrow entrance called the NIJIRI-KUCHI. The host is not the room yet, but the process of welcoming the guests has already begun. A decorative scroll hanging in the alcove is a sign of welcome. And in a vase beside the scroll is a spring of blossom; From these seasonal decorations, the guests can feel and appreciate the thought that the host has put into them.
Confections are served before the tea. Tasting this morsel of sweetness before drinking the tea serve to accentuate the flavour of the tea itself. And them it is time for the host to prepare the tea. The powdered green tea whisk called CHASEN is used. Now the tea is ready.
Using a single bowl and passing it from one guest to the next is called NOMI-MAWASI. By sharing the same tea bowl, the participants can feel a sense of closeness. In the world of the tea ceremony, there is a saying,"ICHI-GO-ICHI-E", meaning "treasure every encounter". Each tea gathering is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.That is why the host demonstrates the utmost consideration for the guests, and they reciprocate.
This spirit is still very much alive in this day and age. Once a year, a large-scale tea gathering is held at some primary school. The children prepare tea for their family members whom they invited as guests. This is a way for the children to express their gratitude. And by getting hands-on experience in the tea ceremony, the children become acquainted with the spirit of heartfelt hospitality.