International students enjoy tea ceremony event

Thirty-three international students joined a tea ceremony event held on Ookayama Campus on July 17. The event, jointly organized by the Japanese Section of the Institute for Liberal Arts (ILA) and the Tokyo Tech Tea Ceremony Club, was the first of its kind in several years following the covid-19 pandemic.

The event kicked off with a demonstration of the tea ceremony process by members of the Tokyo Tech Tea Ceremony Club. The participants watched tensely as the kimono-clad performers went through the motions while a third club member provided commentary in English. "Some teabowls are asymmetrical in shape, a characteristic which we enjoy and appreciate," he said.

The participants then received a bag of sweets which they were instructed to savor before their tea. After this, while sipping on their matcha, they asked the club members a variety of questions regarding the cherished Japanese way of preparing and drinking tea.

Next, the participants had a chance to try their hand at making tea. They filled a teabowl with powdered green tea, poured hot water into the bowl, and used a tea whisk to prepare the tea while being guided by members of the tea ceremony club. After enjoying their self-made tea, the participants continued with lively conversations in both English and simple Japanese, admired the teabowls in more detail, and took photos with the tea ceremony club members. After the event, participants with heightened interest in the tea ceremony club stayed behind to discuss various topics, including culture and traditions in their own countries, with the club members.