Overview
The chashaku 茶杓 is also referred to as “the sword of the tea master”. Beginning with Sen-no-Rikyu and Furuta Oribe, many tea masters have carved their own chashaku to express their personal aesthetic sense. These chashaku are known through historical record, and some survive to this day.
Just as a Zen monk puts their whole spirit into their brush when creating their work of calligraphy and just as a warrior puts all of their power into a single cut of the sword, the chashaku is the ultimate utensil that embodies the tea master’s soul.
You don’t need to be a tea master to make your own chashaku. Chanoyu Week NYC 2023 presents this lecture, workshop, and matcha making session to offer you first-hand experience – no prior knowledge required. Once you finish carving and are ready to enjoy tea, the final touch is naming your chashaku with a simple word that symbolizes your thoughts in this special moment. Let’s carve the one and only chashaku in the world that represents the “you” in 2023 together!
Because of the use of knives and sharp tools for carving, this workshop is not recommended for young children. The organizers are not responsible for any injuries sustained during this workshop. Participants should wear comfortable clothing that may get messy during the carving process.
Gallery
About the Presenters
Yoshitsugu Nagano
Japanese Tea Ceremony Master
Since arriving in the US, Mr. Nagano has conducted more than 150 tea ceremonies and given over 400 lectures. Despite starting his activities amidst the pandemic, he persevered as the sole tea practitioner in New York City. As a result, individuals fatigued by the seemingly endless pandemic began to gather, seeking solace and enlightenment through the Way of Tea, gradually expanding the community.
In 2022, Mr. Nagano took on the role of organizer and representative for Chanoyu Week NYC. This week-long event aims to introduce the Way of Tea to the people of New York, drawing upon his experiences during the pandemic. Recognizing that society faced an unprecedented crisis and should have united to overcome it, he observed a stark contrast where diverse communities in New York clashed and became divided. Mr. Nagano firmly believed that the spirit of “coexistence,” central to the tea ceremony, which unites individuals as one through the act of sharing a cup of tea, could help reunite New York. Consequently, Chanoyu Week NYC will be held annually in November, fostering harmony and unity.
In addition to his accomplishments, Mr. Nagano has collaborated with various corporations and organizations in the past, including:
- Weekly and special tea ceremonies held at Globus Washitsu as Globus Chashitsu (teahouse) in house tea master
- Lectures and tea ceremonies at Bulgari NY Office
- Tea ceremonies held at Aman Hotel NY
- Lectures at art museums and galleries such as Ippodo Gallery, Onishi Gallery, Fu Qiumeng Fine Art, and Poster House Museum.
Chanoyu Week NYC
Event Organizer
Chanoyu Week NYC is an annual celebration of the Japanese tea ceremony held in the fall.
The festival offers New Yorkers creative encounters with chanoyu to enrich them in healing ways mentally and physically.
The festival also contributes to building a stronger New York City community by integrating various genres, cultures, and ideas infused with chanoyu spirit.
