Welcome to our latest video in which we’ll be exploring the art of tea drinking in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. Tea ceremonies, or ‘chado’ in Japanese, are a quintessential part of Japanese culture that date back centuries. They’re not just about savoring the taste of tea, but also about experiencing a moment of tranquility and reflection, and appreciating the beauty of nature and the subtle artistry of the ceremony itself. In this video, we’ll guide you through the steps of preparing and drinking tea in a Japanese tea ceremony(Urasenke). Whether you’re a tea aficionado or just curious about Japanese culture, this video is sure to be a feast for the senses and the soul.
We have also prepared Japanese language learning materials on tea ceremony, so you can learn how to perform the art of tea drinking in its original language. With our materials, you’ll not only master the physical steps of the ceremony, but also gain a deeper understanding of the cultural significance and history behind it. Don’t miss this opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of Japanese tea ceremony and expand your language skills at the same time.
How to Drink Tea in Japanese Tea Ceremony
In this video tutorial, I will teach you how to properly drink tea in the Japanese tea ceremony within the Urasenke school, a prominent school of tea ceremony, to give non-Japanese speakers a chance to experience the traditional art of tea drinking.
- Pick up the chawan with your right hand.
- Place the chawan between yourself and the next guest, inside the tatami bordering.
- Gyo bow (semi-formal)and say Osakini (excuse me for taking tea before you).
- Place the chawan in front of you inside the tatami bordering.
- Shin bow (formal)and say otemae choudai itashimasu (thank you for the tea).
- Pick up the chawan with your right hand.
- Place the chawan on your left palm.
- Raise the chawan, bowing slightly in an expression of thanks.
- Rotate the chawan twice clockwise with your right hand to avoid the front.
- Drink the tea.
- Make noise at your last sip.
- After finishing the tea, wipe the part of the rim that you drank from with your right thumb and forefinger, left to right.
- Wipe your fingers with kaishi paper.
- Rotate the chawan twice counterclockwise so that the front faces you.
- Place the chawan in front of your knees, outside the tatami bordering.
- Place both hands on the tatami mat and have a close look of the whole shape of the chawan.
- Crouching with your elbows against your knees, pick up the chawan with both hands, but not very high. Examine it.
- Place both hands on the tatami mat and have a close look of the whole shape of the chawan again.
- Move forward by pressing hands to the floor.
- Take the chawan with your right hand and place it in front of you. Repeat the process.
- Turn the chawan so that the front faces the host.
- Return the chawan to where the host set it out.
Japanese Vocabulary Used in the Tea Ceremony [How to Drink Tea]
Join me in discovering the Japanese terminology used in the art of tea drinking, and enrich your cultural and linguistic understanding while indulging in the elegant world of the tea ceremony.
Here is a list of Japanese words commonly used when drinking matcha.
| inside | 中に | なかに | nakani |
| tatami bordering | 畳の縁（へり） | たたみのへり | tatamino heri |
| palm | 手のひら | てのひら | tenohira |
| rotate | 回す | まわす | mawasu |
| clockwise | 時計回り | とけいまわり | tokeimawari |
| avoid | 避ける | さける | sakeru |
| rim | 縁・ふち | ふち | fuchi |
| wipe | 拭く | ふく | fuku |
| crouch | うずくまる、かがむ | うずくまる | uzukumaru |
| counterclockwise | 時計と反対周りに | とけいとはんたいまわり | tokeitohanntaimawari |
Simple Japanese Used in the Tea Ceremony [How to Drink Tea]
Discover the elegance of the Japanese tea ceremony and elevate your language proficiency with the Total Physical Response (TPR) method, a highly effective language learning technique that involves using physical movements and responses to reinforce language acquisition. In this video tutorial, you will learn Japanese vocabulary and expressions related to tea drinking while immersing yourself in the art of the tea ceremony.
- Pick up the chawan with your right hand.
- 茶碗を右手でとって。
- ちゃわんをみぎてでとって。
- chawann wo migite de totte.
- Place the chawan between yourself and the next guest.
- 茶碗を次客（隣のゲスト）との間に置いて。
- ちゃわんをじきゃくとのあいだにおいて。
- chawan wo jikyaku tono aida ni oite.
- Place the chawan in front of you.
- 茶碗を前に置いて。
- ちゃわんをまえにおいて。
- chawan wo mae ni oite.
- Place the chawan on your left palm.
- 茶碗を左手に載せて。
- ちゃわんをひだりてにのせて
- chawan wo hidarite ni nosete.
- Raise the chawan, bowing slightly in an expression of thanks.
- 茶碗をあげて、感謝を表す。
- ちゃわんをあげて,かんしゃをあらわす。
- chawan wo agete kansha wo arawasu.
- Rotate the chawan twice clockwise with your right hand.
- 茶碗を右手で2回時計回りに回して。
- ちゃわんをみぎてでにかいとけいまわりにまわして。
- chawan wo migite de nikai tokeimawari ni mawasite.
- Drink the tea.
- お茶を飲んで。
- おちゃをのんで。
- ocha wo nonnde.
- Wipe (the part of the rim that you drank from) with your right thumb and forefinger, left to right.
- 右手の親指と人差し指で左から右に清めて。
- みぎてのおやゆびとひとさしゆびでひだりからみぎてにきよめて。
- migiteno oyayubito hitosasiyubide hidarikara migiteni kiyomete.
- Wipe your fingers with kaishi paper.
- 懐紙で指を拭いて。
- かいしでゆびをふいて。
- kaisshide yubiwo fuite.
- Rotate the chawan twice counterclockwise.
- 茶碗を時計と反対回りに2回回して。
- ちゃわんをとけいとはんたいまわりににかいまわして。
- chawan wo tokei to hanntaimawarini nikai mawashite.
- Have a close look of the whole shape of the chawan.
- 茶碗全体を拝見して。
- ちゃわんぜんたいをはいけんして。
- chawan zentai wo haiken site.
- Pick up the chawan with both hands. Examine it.
- 茶碗を両手で持って拝見して。
- ちゃわんをりょうてでもってはいけんして。
- chawan wo ryoute de motte haikennshite.
- Have a close look of the whole shape of the chawan again.
- 茶碗全体をもう一度拝見して。
- ちゃわんぜんたいをもういちどはいけんして。
- chawan zentai wo mou ichido haiken site.
Conclusion
We hope you enjoy watching our video on the Japanese tea ceremony and gain a better appreciation for this beautiful cultural tradition. Remember, you can also enhance your learning by using our Japanese language learning materials to fully immerse yourself in the art of tea drinking. Take advantage of this opportunity to expand your knowledge and skills while discovering the tranquility and beauty of the Japanese tea ceremony.