Tea Demo, May 22

On Sunday we hosted eight lovely guests at the Ink People Center for the Arts for a lively tea ceremony demonstration.

First, Harvey-sensei demonstrated furo-usucha, with Holly and area potter Thomas Fossier as okyaku, then Holly made usucha for other guests -- two at a time -- while Harvey answered questions. It was lovely to see familiar faces and meet interesting new people.

The highlight of the day was Thomas' new chawan, fresh from a firing in Oregon last month. He's in the process of building his own kiln, which means  (we hope!) that we'll be seeing more of his beautiful work.

Chawan made by Humboldt County potter, Thomas Fossier

We used roll-up mats for our 'chashitsu' --
lightweight and portable, but impossibly wrinkly

Information table and chabana

Earthquake Relief Tea Ceremony

The Northern California Region of the Omotesenke Domonkai will host an East Japan Great Earthquake Relief Fund Chakai on Sunday May 22, 2011.

All proceeds from this Chakai will be donated to the disaster victims.

Place

Nichibei-Kai 3rd Floor, Kanso’an
1759 Sutter St.
San Francisco, California

Time

Usucha (thin tea) Seating #1 @ 12 Noon
Usucha Seating #2 @ 1 PM
Usucha Seating #3 @ 2 PM
Usucha Seating #4 @ 3 PM

All seatings will consist of 10 guests in the tearoom and 15 guests at the Ryurei (table) sitting.
Please select your desired seating and style (tearoom/table) with your application.

Fee

$20 or more per person as a donation

Application

Make checks to: Omotesenke Domonkai
Mail to: Takako Ueda
1104 Potomac Way
Modesto, CA 95355

For information contact Ueda Takako at:
Phone: 209-521-5782
Email: takakou@yahoo.com

Official (but belated) Boy's Day post

Tango no Sekku, Boy's Day
Chabana by Laura

New Beginning Gamelan Class this Summer

Gamelan Sekkar Sequoia

New beginning Gamelan community music class:

Three Sundays (June 12, 19, 26) -- from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Sharon's house in Arcata (11th & D).  Cost for the session: $20.

No previous music experience necessary, no long term commitment required, no performance expectations (unless you join the performing group!). 

All learning is hands on, without notation. 

Sharon is delighted also to report that she recently acquired some new instruments which are particularly easy for beginners -- kenong (very big pots), kempul (medium sized gongs), ketuk/kempyang, and demung.  ("Colotomics" for you music theory types -- well, except for the demung).

Please give Sharon a heads up (via comment to this post) if you or anyone you know would be interested in joining the class.

Terima kasih ("thank you" in Indonesian)

12th Annual Hakone Matsuri

At Hakone Gardens, Saratoga, California
Sunday, May 15, 2011, 11 AM – 4 PM

A yearly event to enjoy mouth-watering chicken yakitori and other dishes, musical and dance performances, a silent auction and various other cultural events. Admission is free.

Highlights of the Event

Program: Mochi Pounding Performance, Tea Ceremony, Tsugaru Shamisen, Koto and Flute Performance, Japanese Kimono/Obi demonstration, Shorinji Kempo, Flower Arrangement, Okinawa Dance, Children's games. Silent Auction: includes round trip air tickets to Japan, electronic gadgets, Kimonos. Foods: Chicken Yakitori, Gyoza, Kagami Biraki, sake tasting, and more.

Supported by Consulate General of Japan, San Francisco

Parking: Free parking at the Saratoga High School, 20300, 20300 Herriman Ave., Saratoga. Take free shuttle buses to Hakone. Hakaone Parking is $15 per vehicle and upon availability.

Happy Tango no Sekku!

Boy's Day Tea Ceremony.
Flower arrangement of irises by Laura. Re-arrangement by Nikko.

Achieving a Happy State of Vagueness

"Georgio and I got back very late last night. Our dinner of eels lasted a long time, we drank more sake, and reached that happy state of vagueness about the exact relations of spatial co-ordinates that leads to the opening of hearts."

-- Fosco Maraini
 Meeting With Japan