In Memory of My Tea Master — The Spirit of Wa and the Way of Tea ‪@teaharmonybysoryu‬

In memory of my beloved tea master, Sensei Koike. Last month, my tea master passed away. On her memorial day, I offered a bowl of tea in her memory and hung her calligraphy, wa (和)—“harmony”—in my tea room. Sensei Koike was one of the pioneers who brought Omotesenke tea culture to New York City. After nearly thirty years in New York, she returned to Japan, leaving behind generations of students and teachers whom she had trained. One of the most precious things she left with me was a piece of calligraphy she gave to her students as a farewell gift. Beside the character wa, she wrote: “Seeking the heart of tea, eighty years on.” Her teaching went far beyond the techniques of preparing tea. She taught us to remain calm when things did not go as planned, to find a way when we lacked what we needed, and to keep practicing until our movements became natural. She was also a strong advocate for chaji, the full tea gathering. She would prepare handmade kaiseki cuisine for all of her guests—a tremendous amount of work, but an expression of the care and hospitality at the heart of tea. Today, I devote much of my own tea practice to chaji, and I know that this is one of the many things I inherited from her. In this video, I share some memories of Sensei Koike, the lessons she gave me, and the reason her influence continues to shape the way I practice and share the Way of Tea today. Sensei, thank you for everything you taught me. I will continue to practice and share the Way of Tea, carrying with me the spirit of wa that you gave us. Please continue to watch over me. #japaneseteaceremony #WayOfTea #Chaji #TeaCeremony #JapaneseCulture