News and Events

切溜につふと見せたる照葉かな　　　　　召波
 kiridame ni / tsu fu to misetaru / teri-ha kana
In the box like tray for flowers there is a beautiful teri-ha.  Shôha

With the arrival of frost in the late autumn, the leaves of miscellaneous trees are ablaze (teri) with autumnal tints of yellow and red. They are used for farewell tea gatherings as a natural gift.  The teri-ha of persimmons are most used; other are mansaku (witch hazel) and haze (wax tree).  A couple of teri-ha, seemingly about to fall, at the end of a branch are arranged in a tea room to symbolize the sort of items chosen for a farewell tea gathering for the furo.

This is the season for persimmons, which are a personal favorite of mine.  There are two kinds available now the hachiya and fuyu.   The fuyu are the flat kind that are sweet even when they are not quite ripe. The hachiya, until they are ripe, are so astringent that they make your mouth pucker.  It seems like they take a long time to ripen, and then they are so sweet it make the waiting worthwhile.  Persimmon juice was often applied to paper to strengthen it.  And there is the kimamori, the guardian persimmon thta is left on the tree to ensure future good harvest.

Having trouble sitting?  SweetPersimmon has meditation seats for tea and zazen.

"I like my new zazen bench. It's Great!
...everyone thought it was extremely cool. I could hardly believe it could be small enough to put in your kimono sleeve, but it sure enough is! The design is just so clean and functional, it's so nicely finished and so strong, and I love how the bag converts to upholstery. It really fits a guy my size perfectly."

~ Tim Sowa Olson, Tea Ceremony Sensei, Seattle Urasenke Branch

You can get your own little zazen bench on our site for meditation seats, incense, specialty leaf teas, books, books, photos and more.

www.SweetPersimmon.com

SweetPersimmon now has matcha, powdered tea for Japanese Tea Ceremony,  as well as tea ceremony and koh do (incense ceremony) supplies and utensils.

Issoan Tea School now has classes at:
Issoan Tea School
17761 NW Marylhurst Ct.
Portland, OR 97229
503.645.7058

Aikido Yoshokai in North Portland
Peninsula Odd Fellows Hall
4834 N Lombard St.
Portland, Oregon
503.922.2563

Ryokusuido Tea House
3826 NE Glisan St.
Portland, OR 97232
503.326.8005
 

Workshop: How to Dress in Kimono

Have you always wanted to wear a kimono?  For both men and women, come and learn how to dress and wear kimono properly.  Everyone will be dressed in authentic kimono and obi.  Ryokusuido has a new shipment of kimono, obi and haori. If you have your own kimono and obi, please bring them.  Afterwards, you will attend a Japanese Tea Ceremony in the Ryokusuido Tea Room. Limited enrollment. Reserve your place now.

When:  Tuesday, November 4, 2008  6:30 pm.
Fee: $25.00 Reservations required
Where: Ryokusuido
           3826 NE Glisan St.
           Portland, OR 97232 

For more information and reservations, contact:

Margie Yap
503.645.7058
margie@issoantea.com
www.issoantea.com
sweetpersimmon1.blogspot.com

If you'd like your event included below, please send me an email.

Seasonal Notes for October

Seasonal Notes for September

Seasonal Notes for August

Seasonal Notes for July

Seasonal Notes for June

Seasonal Notes for May

Seasonal Notes for April

Seasonal Notes for March

Seasonal Notes for February

Seasonal Notes for January

Seasonal Notes for December

Seasonal Notes for November

Portland

Tea Ceremony Demonstrations, Portland Japanese Garden
Saturday, October 18th, 1 and  2 pm
Join us in the Tea Garden of the Japanese Garden for a demonstration of tea prepared by Kashintei Kai. Tea ceremony demonstrations are offered at the Garden on the third Saturday of every summer month at 1pm and 2pm. Free with Garden admission.

Wakai Tea Association Guest Night
Tuesday, October 28
Wakai Tea Association provides to the general public opportunities to attend Guest Nights, a tea demonstration. The ceremony is simply the preparation, serving and drinking of powdered green tea; yet within this simplicity lies the very heart of Japanese culture. In quiet setting of a garden and teahouse, guest contemplate words on a scroll, view the flowers in the alcove and enjoy a bowl of tea. Fees are $15 and $10 for a guest and a Wakai member respectively. Guest nights are an ideal way to introduce your friends to Tea. Please email contact@wakaitea.org with subject line "Guest Night" for further information and to make a guest night reservation. Reservations are required.

 

Seattle

Seattle Japanese Garden, Shoseian Teahouse
Wednesdays October 18th and 22nd at 11:00 am Shoseian Roji tour
Sundays October 19, 26 1:00 and 2:00 pm
The 6-mat tearoom, Shoseian, Arbor of the Murmuring Pines, was rebuilt in 1981 with funding provided by Urasenke Foundation of Kyoto to serve as a classroom for the study of Chado at the University of Washington. Shoseian is maintained by Seattle Branch for University of Washington Chado classes, community classes, seasonal tea gatherings, special events and tea presentations. Saturday Tea presentations are free with admission to the Garden. Optional tea/sweet tickets may be purchased at the ticket booth for $10. Sunday Tea presentations require $10 tickets. General admission to the Garden is $5 for adults, $3 for students and seniors. Please call (206) 684-4725 for reservations and hours of operation or visit online at Seattle Japanese Garden

Seattle Art Museum, Ryokusuian Teahouse
Tuesday October 14th 11:00 am, and  Sunday October 19th 2:30 pm
Chado, the Way of Tea in the 3-mat tearoom, Ryokusuian, Arbor of Green Reflecting Waters, designed and built by the Urasenke Foundation of Kyoto, is the setting for bimonthly presentations that include the service of tea. Free with reservations. Call SAM at (206) 654-3121, Tuesday through Friday, between 10am and 4pm or visit online. More Info: http://www.seattleartmuseum.org/

Tea ceremony presentations for School Groups may be arranged on Tuesdays from 12:15-1:00, following the presentations for the general public that end at noon. For dates please see the schedule of presentations above. For reservations call the Education Department at (206) 654-3186 or visit online.

 

San Francisco

Special JCCCNC Event: Kaiseki Cooking Class
DATE - Saturday, Oct. 25, 2008
TIME - 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
FEE - $35 ($30 members)
Please call the Japanese Cultural Community Center in SF (415-567-5505) for more information and to make reservations. You can also view the class announcements on their web site: Wagashi class  Kaiseki class . Please Email teatimes@chanoyu.com, for more information or to make reservations. Advance payment by mail will confirm your email reservations. As space is limited, cancellations must be made not later than 5-days before each event to receive a refund. Thank you.
 

Tearoom Open to the Public: Open Hearth
Open to all, this monthly lecture-presentation tea gathering is a wonderful first-hand introduction to the Way of Tea. Come to be a guest to savor the atmosphere and flavors of the tearoom. Explore the suitable variations of each season along with experiencing the underlying history and philosophy of the Way of Tea. Urasenke Foundation San Francisco Branch. 2143 Powell St., San Francisco 94133. 415-433-6553

DATE: Wednesday, October 8, 2008 TIME: 6:00pm RSVP: Reservations are necessary and must be secured with a check. Please telephone 415.433.6553. FEE: $25 / $30 (at door) ** Please telephone if your request is 3 days or less before the event.

10 Lesson Introductory Series
The Introductory Series offers students an opportunity to learn a simple preparation of tea in ten lessons. The structure of the Introductory Series emphasizes the role of both host and guest. The fee is $250; space is limited to provide individualized attention. Fall term will begin October, 2007. Please call 415.433.6553 or e-mail to contact@urasenke.org  for details. Urasenke Foundation San Francisco Branch. 2143 Powell St., San Francisco 94133. 415-433-6553
** Note: there may be a waiting list for enrollment in the Introductory Series.

The Flip Side of Yohsi's
A day of traditional and contemporary Japanese Culture and Arts
Saturday, October 11th
1330 Fillmore, San Francisco, CA 94115
415.655.5600
Admission: Donation$15 or more (for the artists)

Dai Cha Kai - October 19
The Hakone Gardens sponsors a Dai Chakai every year. This year there will be presentations of Omotesenke, Urasenke, Mushanokojisenke, Yabunouchi and Matsuoryu style of tea. It would be a good place to view some of the differences and similarities in the tea schools. There’s still time to reserve your place before October 10th:

Hakone Dai Cha Kai
Location: 21000 Big Basin Way, Saratoga, California
Schedule: Sunday,October 19, 2008
11:00-11.45 A.M. Registration
12:00-5:00 P.M. Chaseki

For Further information please contact: John Larissou at 415.731.0622 or e-mail larissou@gmail.com for details and reservations.

Reservation Form (42KB PDF).

Philadelphia

Shofuso is a house built in authentic 16th-century Japanese style, located on the grounds of the Horticultural Center in Fairmount Park. Originally built in the 1950s and presented as an official gift from Japan to the United States, it was part of a special exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. When the exhibition closed, the house moved to Philadelphia. Ohio House, 4700 States Drive, Philadelphia, PA 19131.