On April 30, 2023, RESOBOX East Village launched a new “Tea Ceremony Class” called Chanoyu for Everyone: Teatime at the Table. This bimonthly class, which already has many fans and students, was designed to allow people interested in tea ceremony to start easily, without many of the barriers that would otherwise prevent people from giving this rich tradition a try.
Instead of sitting on tatami mats, as is customary, the class adopts a “Table Style” approach where participants can casually sit in chairs. Despite the worldwide popularity of matcha, tea ceremony often carries the impression of being highly formal with numerous rules regarding attire, utensils, and etiquette. By structuring the class to involve making tea and learning the core principles of chanoyu, even Americans who are not familiar with sitting in the seiza position can enjoy themselves and take their first step into the world of tea.
The class is taught by Mr. Yoshitsugu Nagano, a professor affiliated with the Ueda Soko School of Tea Ceremony. This school follows the tradition of Ueda Soko (1563-1650), a warrior and tea master, who is considered the founder of the martial-style tea ceremony. Ueda Soko was a valorous samurai with many military achievements to his name, who came to Hiroshima in 1619 to serve Asano Nagaakira, the Lord of the Hiroshima Domain. Upon his retirement at the age of 70, Soko devoted himself to tea, crafting materials and honing techniques that have been passed down in Hiroshima for over 400 years, characterized by precise and efficient movements. Mr. Nagano, based in New York since 2019, pursues a style that incorporates contemporary sensibilities and expressions into the traditional etiquette of tea ceremony. Working with RESOBOX President Takashi Ikezawa, the two have created a new class format that opts for comfort and ease of entry while guiding the pursuit of tea ceremony for brand new audiences.
A Cozy Classroom Setting
Participants come from all walks of life: varying races, ethnicities, genders, and ages ranging from 20 to 70 and up. Each class consists of an hour and a half of lectures, discussion, and practical training. Under Mr. Nagano’s meticulous instruction, the class progresses in a friendly and harmonious atmosphere. Tea bowls, tea whisks, and tea caddies are provided by the World Green Tea Association in Shizuoka and the Japan Tea Export Promotion Council in Tokyo, while “Yame Matcha Yabukita” from Hoshino Seichaen of Kagoshima is used in preparing the tea. Some participants even choose to purchase the tools they like during the class for personal use at home.
As a company dedicated to promoting Japanese culture in New York, RESOBOX offers a variety of Japanese cultural classes, including calligraphy, bonsai, ikebana, origami, manga, and plastic model making, in addition to classes with a more culinary bent, like this one. Our store in the East Village regularly hosts various events and cultural workshops related to Japan. If you are interested, we encourage you to participate. We also offer private classes for businesses of all sizes, both in-person and online. If you are a representative of a company and are interested, please feel free to contact us.