Tea talk and demo

You are invited to learn about Chanoyu, the Japanese Tea Ceremony, and Chado, the Way of Tea. Our monthly gatherings feature a discussion and demonstration of Chanoyu.

Sunday Oct 12, noon
Ink People Center for the Arts
517 3d St., Suite 40
(3rd floor, elevator available)
Old Town, Eureka

Wear comfortable clothing, be fragrance-free and wear minimal jewelry. Everyone is welcome, but this event is not recommended for small children. Free will donation requested. Please join us!

For additional information, contact us at horai.center@gmail.com

If at first you don't succeed...

... untie the obi and start over.

Holly, David and Pia enjoy tea after struggling with kimono

To gain more practice in wearing kimono, sensei has us practicing temai once a month in kimono. It felt like we were sent back in time to when we were two-year-olds learning to tie shoelaces and button our own coats. After much fumbling and frustration we managed to get ourselves respectably dressed.

Wearing kimono demands much mindfulness of we Westerners. They are unfamiliar so we must move carefully and thoughtfully. Standing up, sitting down and walking gracefully are especially challenging. On the upside, kimono restricts or, rather, shapes movement and helps us to have better posture when sitting and bowing, and helps us understand why certain motions in temai are the way they are (for example, why the natsume is set down in a certain way).

Next month, we will be even better.

:: :: ::

Online reference for wearing kimono and tying obi

Rebecca Cragg of Camellia Teas demonstrates how to tie Nagoya obi (YouTube)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obi_%28sash%29

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpURUVT3Msk&feature=related 

http://www.wafuku.co.uk/kimonoinfo5.htm

http://www.ehow.com/how_4480025_tie-geisha-obi.html

http://stores.japanesegoods.jp/Page.bok?template=traditionalkimono

http://www.hanamiweb.com/kimono.html

http://tanuki.org.uk/kimono.html

Amy & Aiko Uyeki Senryu Poetry Reading

Shizue Harada’s poignant poems, (pen name Sanae) along with artwork created by her granddaughter Amy Uyeki, are the subject of a poetry reading of Sanae, Senryu Poet: Her Life in 5-7-5, read by Amy and editor Aiko Uyeki, Sanae’s daughter.


Following the poetry reading, the Uyekis will conduct a workshop exploring senryu and haiga, which combines poetry with artwork.

Wed., Sept. 15, 2010
Time: 6-8 p.m.
Price: Free
Where: Library Fishbowl (Room 209), Humboldt State University Campus
(download a campus map [pdf])

For more details, contact Kumi Watanabe-Schock email (707) 826-5656

Chabako, California-Style

Last winter, Harvey-Sensei taught us Unohana Chabako or "picnic tea," as it is sometimes called. It is a temai meant to be enjoyed outdoors. We were able to enjoy chabako on several occasions this year. In the spring we enjoyed chabako at a Tango-no-sekku (Boy's Day) garden party. In July, Harvey presented chabako to his friends at their annual group camp-out:

Photo by Lauraven Dodd

In August, we took our friends Midori-sensei and Noriko-san to Redwood National Park and enjoyed tea in the redwood forest:

Preparing for chabako

Harvey-san makes tea, Noriko-san takes video

The view from our picnic area. What finer kakemono is there?

Poetry reading and booksigning

If you missed the Senryu poetry reading and workshop earlier this month, you have another opportunity to listen to readings from Sanae, Senryu Poet, Her Life in 5-7-5, the poetry of Shizue Harada. And, of course, purchase a copy and have it signed!

Friday, Aug. 27, 7:00 p.m.
Northtown Books
957 H St., Arcata
822-2834

Chanoyu demonstration success

Horai Center friends welcomed five very nice people to our first Chanoyu demonstration on Aug. 15 at the Ink People Center for the Arts. We are already planning our next presentation.

Harvey demonstrated Ryuakubondate temai* without narration (above), then narrated and answered questions as Laura and Kristin demonstrated the temai again. It was wonderful to be able to share usucha* with interesting people.

Bonus: We got to practice putting on kimono! We need a lot more practice.


* Links to a brief yet expanding glossary of terms used on this site.

Chanoyu Demonstration

Horai Center will be providing a demonstration and discussion of Chanoyu (Japanese Tea ceremony) at the Ink People Center for the Arts, 517 3rd St., Eureka, Calif. We recommend guests wear comfortable clothing, be fragrance-free and wear minimal jewelry. Everyone is welcome, but this demonstration is not recommended for small children.

When/where:

Dates	Sunday Aug. 15
Time	noon-2 p.m.
Venue	Ink People Center for the Arts
Cost	Free-will donation
E-mail