Day Six

Tokyo- Day Six

Today was the day on which we were to witness the enigmatic Japanese Tea Ceremony. I had read about it during my school years, when we had a lesson written by an eminent Goan writer, on the same.

The writer had emphasised that today’s modern Japanese life is fast-paced and hurried, and the tea ceremony was one of the ways in which the Japanese relaxed and kept up with their ever increasing workload. He had also emphasised that this tradition was like a process or ritual which had to be followed step by step, in order to fully feel its impact.

Japanese Tea

Seeing the ceremony first hand, I could not agree more with the writer.  There is something calming and relaxing about the way the whole ceremony is performed: The way the water is boiled, the tea cups are wiped clean; the way the tea paste is gently poured into the tea cup and finally, when the tea cup is handed over to its delightful recipient.

Japanese Tea Cups

This ceremony reminds me of the serene and peaceful feeling that I experienced at the Meiji Shrine a couple of days back. Isn’t that the purpose of this ceremony? If it is, then it certainly fulfilled it. What better way to relax, than with a cup of tea.

- Shubhankar Shah