I moved from the Kanto region to Kurashiki in December 2023, and I have been practicing tea ceremony since I lived in Kanto.
When I heard “tea gathering,” I imagined a nerve-racking event where you had to wear a kimono and drink tea according to the proper etiquette. But I learned that Kurashiki holds “citizens’ tea gatherings” that residents can attend casually.
Since I had become a Kurashiki City resident, I decided to attend the 19th Kurashiki Citizens’ Tea Gathering, held this autumn.
The information provided was accurate when this article was published in November 2024. Please note that it may differ from current information.
What is the 19th Kurashiki Citizens’ Tea Gathering?
On Sunday, September 29, 2024, the 19th Kurashiki Citizens’ Tea Gathering was held at Geibunkan Hall, hosted by the Citizens’ Tea Gathering Executive Committee and the Kurashiki City Cultural Promotion Division.
Two groups took part this time: the Omotesenke school and the Urasenke Tankokai Kurashiki Branch. From the 9:30 a.m. session through the 3 p.m. session, tea gatherings were held at Geibunkan Hall’s Ai Theater for the Omotesenke school and in the Japanese-style room on the fourth floor of the Geibunkan Hall Annex for Urasenke.
What the participants were like
When we arrived at the venue, women in kimono and men in hakama greeted us at reception, making me realize that I had come to experience traditional culture. At the same time, although some participants wore kimono, many were dressed in casual clothes. Participants ranged widely in age and gender, from elderly people using canes to children of elementary-school age and younger.
I arrived with a friend’s child that day. We adults love tea and were eager to enjoy ourselves, but I was a little nervous about whether my friend’s preschool-aged child would enjoy it too, so we first headed to the Urasenke venue.
The Urasenke Tankokai Kurashiki Branch, where the whole venue was filled with friendly excitement
I practice tea ceremony in the Urasenke school and know the flow of the tea-making procedure and its etiquette, so I thought it would be easier to explain what to expect to the child. We therefore headed to the Urasenke venue first.
When we arrived, the previous tea gathering was already underway, so we entered a room called the machiai (waiting room). Here, we settled our minds in preparation for the next gathering, spending time looking over the record of the gathering and chatting.
A woman in a kimono showed us in, and it was finally time for our gathering. The venue was on the fourth floor, up one flight of stairs from the waiting room. The annex of Geibunkan Hall has an elevator only up to the third floor, so I had wondered when I saw the sign saying “Urasenke venue: fourth-floor Japanese-style room.” I hadn’t realized there was a staircase inside a room on the third floor. My anticipation grew even more.
The venue was a spacious Japanese-style room with an open feel. Participants continued to file in, surrounding the room.
Once everyone had entered, the seasonal fresh sweet “Kinpu” from Kikkodo, delicately tinted in warm autumn colors, was brought to the participants. Since it was an original Japanese sweet made for the Kurashiki Citizens’ Tea Gathering, everyone’s eyes lit up.
It came with kaishi paper and a kuromoji pick, so there was no need to bring anything.
All the children were given a cute souvenir, whether or not they had a tea ticket, and the tea-making procedure began in a warm, friendly atmosphere.
Even during the tea-making procedure, the shokyaku (the most honored guest) chatted with us, saying things like, “It’s thoughtful that this sweet comes with kaishi paper and a kuromoji pick,” and “Seeing the souvenirs given to the children warmed our hearts too.” The matcha was brought in as the gathering grew more lively.
Since most participants began drinking at almost the same time, it was fine even if you didn’t know the etiquette. My friend who came with me asked about the etiquette, so I explained as we drank together. Everyone else was also enjoying the tea gathering in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere, so we didn’t have to worry about speaking too loudly.
As we enjoyed drinking tea together, the gathering was over in no time. At the end, we viewed the utensils used in the tea-making procedure and left the venue.
The Omotesenke school, with chairs and tables to make it easy for people of all ages to participate
Next, we moved to Geibunkan Hall’s Ai Theater to watch the Omotesenke school’s tea-making procedure.
At the Omotesenke school venue, chairs were lined up in front of the venue, with the record of the gathering placed there.
Unlike the Urasenke gathering in a Japanese-style room, the Omotesenke school venue had tables and chairs set up. Some participants with children enjoyed tea while keeping their children in strollers, while others using canes sat comfortably in chairs. It really conveyed that everyone was welcome, regardless of age.
The sweets served in the Omotesenke style are also made by Kikkodo, the same confectioner as those for the Urasenke style. This charming sweet is named “Miyama no Aki.” It is also a sweet that can be enjoyed only at this Kurashiki City Citizens’ Tea Gathering.
As you enjoy the sweets, matcha is served. A different variety of tea is used here too, so it’s nice to be able to compare the sweets and tea served in the Urasenke and Omotesenke styles.
From the Writer
At the Kurashiki Citizens’ Tea Gathering, an environment was in place where people of all ages and genders could take part, with souvenirs for children without tea tickets, paper napkins and kuromoji picks prepared, and tea served at tables with chairs.
I was impressed that the event was set up to give beginners an authentic tea ceremony experience, precisely because people well versed in tea ceremony, such as the principal guest in the Urasenke tradition, also took part.
Kurashiki City is home to a former port of call for Kitamaebune ships, and was recognized as Japan Heritage for “A different world entwined with the dreams of men who overcame the stormy seas: Kitamaebune ports of call and shipowner settlements.” As a result, merchants gathered in the port town, and tea culture became a cherished part of their refinement.
I hope this event continues, so that even more people can develop an appreciation for tea, one of Kurashiki’s cultural traditions.
19th Kurashiki Citizens’ Tea Gathering Information
| Name | 19th Kurashiki Citizens’ Tea Gathering |
|---|---|
| Date | September 29, 2024 (Sunday), registration from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. |
| Location | 1-18-1 Chuo, Kurashiki City |
| Admission (tax included) | 1,000 yen |
What would you like to know about Kurashiki?
Enter a search term to find articles on this site
