Traditional Tea Ceremony - the "Way of Tea"

After our interesting Morning at the Tsukiji Fish Market we rested at Jyun's house, then later went over to Norico's House where the "Way of Tea" was being performed.

Norico was part of a Tea Ceremony Club when at University and also learnt from her Grandmother who lives with her family and can also perform the traditional ceremony, so she assisted Norico.

I was hoping Norico would dress in a Kimono, but she said as it was an "informal" ceremony, she would wear plain clothes instead. Norico let me be the guest of Honour at the ceremony, which was performed in her families purpose built Japanese Tatami room, complete with Hearth in the flooring.

There were many steps involved in the ceremony and it felt rather serious to me, well that was until Norico let me have a turn at "mixing" the matcha powder with the boiling water! :) It was actually quite difficult to do it correctly...



Later after the ceremony we enjoyed lunch and coffee with her family... and their pet turtle!