Horai Center to Represent Eureka at Kamisu Celebration

Horai Center will represent the City of Eureka, California, at a ceremony celebrating its Sister City of Kamisu, Japan on Aug. 1, 2015 as it celebrates the 10th anniversary of incorporation. 

Below is a video produced by Eureka television station News Channel 3, with a look back to the beginnings of the Sister City relationship begun in 1991 with then-mayor Nancy Flemming. 

http://kiem-tv.com/video/eurekas-sister-city-japan-inviting-local-representatives-ceremony

We look forward to sharing this celebration with our fellow Eurekans and all of Humboldt County. If you haven't already, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.

Timeless Hour

Scroll and flower arrangement
Ichi-go ichi-e (one chance, one meeting)

This week we had the pleasure to present a demonstration of Cha-no-yu at the Humboldt State University Library. The Library's Lifelong Learning program organizes short lunchtime programs for the college campus and surrounding community. We shared Tea with 40 or so people in the beautiful Fishbowl meeting room. One attendee drove from Smith River, about an hour away.

The enthusiasm and interest in Cha-no-yu was wonderful but bittersweet since we had only an hour to make introductions, demonstrate a short procedure (Chabako, or "picnic tea") and then answer a few questions. But for that short time we slowed our pace and focused on the present, something we don't always do at lunch.

The Fishbowl meeting room at the Humboldt State University library

Demonstration of Chabako, or picnic tea

Explanation of shomen, the front of an object
Photo courtesy of Kumi Watanabe-Schock

Time for questions and answers 

Haiken — appreciation of the natsume (tea container)
Photo courtesy of Kumi Watanabe-Schock

Haiken — appreciation of the natsume (tea container)
Photo courtesy of Kumi Watanabe-Schock