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| Terada-san's beautiful whisking technique |
I was so impressed with how quickly things went that I got goose bumps. Well, I always do every time I see these ladies go for a presentation anywhere. I mean everywhere; schools, hospitals, libraries, festivals and so on.
Now that I have the privilege of having those ladies' help, I started immediately to work on spreading the word out on this event and hoped many people would come. On top of that I had a lot to learn, because I knew nothing about tea ceremony!!! The reason I came up with this idea was I had tatami mats at home. That's it.
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| Sacchan's homemade sweets along with flower-shaped sugary cake from Japan |
Anyways, it's true what they say in the movie.
"If you build it, they will come."
I was so honored to have the presence of wonderful friends and their friends as guests and experienced ladies from Showing Japan as tea ceremony hosts and dancers at my house. I admit, that I must have been the one who had the most fun that day!
The term the famous tea master Sen no Rikyu used in tea ceremony is “Ichigo ichie.” It means that we must treasure every encounter, as it can be the last time in our life time.
Ever since March 11th, I have felt this great sense of oneness and global friendship in people around me and I am so fortunate to have that, because that is something which keeps me going every day and without that, all this wouldn't have been possible.
Despite of the huge tragedy, when we are willing to open our eyes, there is so much beauty in this world and this day was surely one of them.
As an expat from Japan, I don't know how much time is left for me here in the US. This experience is something that I'll take home and cherish for the rest of my life. All the people who took part in this event have such open hearts. Please keep radiating your light and kindness to the people around you! Also I would like to thank my friends who brought delicious lunch and dessert for the break. You rock.
The proceeds of this event was $746 and it went to Global Giving Foundation as Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Fund. Huge thanks to those of you sending me checks even though you couldn't make it that day. Thank you, again.
Pictures from the ceremony: Please find yourself
http://cid-c414af57b20f8fd0.photos.live.com/albums.aspx
About Japanese Tea Ceremony:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_tea_ceremony
「家に畳がある」という理由だけで「お茶会ができないか」と思い立った私。奥原代表に持ちかけてみると岩崎さんと相談、田村先生にも即電話で、わずか１５分程度の間に詳細が決定する。
Showing Japanの機動力を垣間見、その意思決定のスピードに感激しながらこのイベントはスタートした。
スピーカーに山田さん、お菓子作りに鈴木さんの協力も得、大船に乗った私の仕事は「集客活動」である。１０時、１１時、１２時半の３回のお手前にそれぞれ１２人ずつ、計３６名のお客様にお越しいただくことができた。
当日の朝は着物の女性軍が颯爽と我が家に現れるやいなや種々の道具の搬入が始まり、思わず目を見張る。「お茶会をAWAYで開くのが常」の彼女達はあれよという間に準備を整え、茶道の心得如く無駄なく、その手際の良さといったらない。
そんな訳で尊敬するShowing Japanのメンバーや友人・お客様に囲まれ、一番この日を楽しんだのは他でもなくホストである私でした。
そしてお手前の後には奥原さん・稲尾さんの「さくらさくら」を鑑賞頂く。この踊りに母国を想い泣した、と言われたお客様がいます。
また、茶道と生け花のボランティアが被災地を訪れた時の事。ある男性は一服のお茶を手にした時、その敬意溢れる温かさに震災後初めて涙したという。
この困難の中で日本は世界に何をあたえられるのだろうかと思いを巡らせた時、「精神性の高さ」に思い至った。それは芸術・文化・宗教観といったものの中だけにあるのではない。被災地の方々が見せてくれた「生きる姿勢」の中に確かにある。
７割以上を様々な国籍のお客様が占めていたが、彼らは和敬清寂・一期一会の精神に触れ、日々の生活を振り返る大変良い機会を得た、と大変喜んでいらした。また参加できなかったが趣旨に賛同頂いた方々からも寄付金を頂き、お陰で７４６ドルをGlobal Giving Foundation に寄せることができた。この寄付金は被災地で活動するNGOの資金として即役立っています(www.globalgiving.org/japan-updates)。多くの方々の温かい心とお力添えのお陰です。この場をお借りいたしまして心より御礼申し上げます。
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| The left is the speaker, Yuko-san. So much to learn from her. |
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| Traditional dance "Sakura Sakura" Okuhara-san (left) and Inao-san (right) |
