TOKOTOKO'S
TEA HOUSE
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TOKOTOKO'S
TEA HOUSE
JAPANESE TEA CLASS FOR ALL
2025 San Francisco Tankokai Tea Ceremony January 26, 2025 Kansoan Teahouse, Kabuki Hotel
I'm really sorry for the long absence, everyone.
It's been more than half a year since the last update. Please forgive me.
We have been steadily carrying out our events up until now. Today, we will report on one of our biggest events, the Urasenke First Tea Ceremony.
Although the COVID-19 situation has calmed down considerably, we were still worried. Still, we wanted our guests to enjoy thick and thin tea, so we held three thick tea ceremonies in the tea room "Kansoan" of the Northern California Japan America Center, and thin tea in a standing ceremony in a room on the first floor.
This time, we will introduce you to the thick tea ceremony.
After the thick tea ceremony in the teahouse, those who had finished the ceremony were invited to move to the first floor to enjoy thin tea. A celebratory luncheon was then held at the Kabuki Hotel in San Francisco's Japantown from 1:30 pm.
Please see the event for details.
Tokotoko Shachu's
New Year's Tea Ceremony
January 12, 2025
On January 12, 2025, our Tokotoko company held the first event of the new year, the New Year's Hatsugama Tea Ceremony.
The tea ceremony took place in an eight-tatami tea room, where a scroll by the head of the Zabosai school, "Smoke, Mist, and Water Across the River," was hung, creating an atmosphere that gave the impression of catching a glimpse of the glorious sunrise of the new year.
At this thick tea ceremony, everyone was given a serving of thick tea along with "hanabiramochi" (flower petal rice cakes) made by Minomiya.
Guests then enjoyed light tea on the Misono shelf in the waiting room and on the Washin shelf, Zabosai's favorite, in the reception room.
Afterwards, everyone enjoyed the long-awaited lunch in a pleasant atmosphere in the dining room.
I am very happy to be able to spend the New Year with you all.
First Cultural Lecture
Hokka Nichibeikai
December 15, 2024
One day in late November, I had the opportunity to meet with the Consul General and his wife, who introduced me to Mr. K. and asked me to invite him to San Francisco to give a lecture on Japanese architecture.
After visiting New York and Boston from Japan, Mr. K. stopped off in San Francisco on his way back and was planning to give a half-day lecture. After asking his name and looking into it later, I found out that Mr. K. was from the Urasenke school of Kyoto. I contacted the International Department of the headquarters and received permission, and somehow or other we were able to hold the first cultural lecture of the Northern California Nichibei Kai in the conference room of the Northern California Nichibei Kai Hall.
With the end of the year fast approaching and time and preparations limited, the event was attended by a total of 35 people, including the Consul General and his wife, staff from the consulate, local art museum personnel, and members of the Omotesenke and Urasenke schools. The lecture was packed with valuable information, including touching on the shinden-zukuri style of architecture that will also appear in the 2024 taiga drama "To You, the Light," making it a truly eye-opening day.
I hope to be able to realize such projects in the future.
Toastmaster
Tea Demonstration December 12, 2024
On Sunday, November 10th, our association held a noon tea ceremony, inviting the executives who helped us in 2023 and 2024. Since we were expecting more than 10 guests, we quickly had DMS send us a tea ceremony set from Japan and prepared for the 10 guests.
There were two hosts, each in charge of five guests. It was hectic and we weren't able to take many photos on the day, but we will contact you again at a later date and share the photos.
I was worried at one point about what would happen, but I was able to complete the project safely and learned a lot. I have once again reflected on the fact that I need to use my brain more and think more creatively.
We were asked by a hobby club called "Toastmasters" in Tokyo to do a tea ceremony demonstration, and we were delighted to let them experience the charm of Japan and the tea ceremony as a different culture.
Although this area is relatively racially mixed, the majority of the population is white, and many of them are not particularly interested in other cultures. That's where we came in. As a result, they were very pleased.
Please click for details.
PAST EVENTS
~ Past events ~
October 27, 2024 Hakone Garden Grand Tea Ceremony
The Hakone Garden Grand Tea Ceremony, a major autumn tea ceremony event that had been canceled due to COVID-19, was held in style on Sunday, October 27, 2024. The usual number of participants is just under 100, but this time it was more than double that, and although we were only scheduled to be seated for thick tea, we decided at the last minute to set up a thin tea seat in the lower area.
And as the biggest event of all, the Consul General and his wife stopped by at the end to serve usucha tea to everyone. All the participants were touched and delighted. This was truly a once in a lifetime experience. Thank you very much.
November 10, 2024 Thanksgiving Shogo Tea Ceremony
On Sunday, November 10th, our association held a noon tea ceremony, inviting the executives who helped us in 2023 and 2024. Since we were expecting more than 10 guests, we quickly had DMS send us a tea ceremony set from Japan and prepared for the 10 guests.
There were two hosts, each in charge of five guests. It was hectic and we weren't able to take many photos on the day, but we will contact you again at a later date and share the photos.
I was worried at one point about what would happen, but I was able to complete the project safely and learned a lot. I have once again reflected on the fact that I need to use my brain more and think more creatively.