Pursuing the theme of  Japanese Traditional Arts, which provides the focus for the first block of East Asian Studies this semester, there will be workshops held on Wednesday and Friday this week. The first will be taught by Dr. Preston Houser, long-term shakuhachi (bamboo flute) player who has attained the ‘Master’ rank in his field.

Friday’s workshop will offer an introduction to ‘Chado- The Japanese Way of Tea’ and will be held at the Urasenke Center.  The Urasenke style is one of  two main tea ceremony forms in Japan and the Urasenke family trace their lineage back 15 generations to Sen Rikyu (1522-91), the person accredited with elevating the preparation and drinking of tea into a ‘Way.’ The tea ceremony, both complicated and simple, has evolved into a highly ritualized art form that takes many years of study to perfect and in many ways could be considered a metaphor for Japan itself in its attention to detail, ambience, aestheics and seasonal change.

Please be sure to read the handouts you received before these classes and refer to the Urasenke website to learn more of their family history and about Chado itself.

Finally, on Saturday night, there will be a get-together party with Ritsumeikan University students. If you have brought any photos of home or family with you, it might be a good idea to  bring them as they will make great ice-breakers!

Thank you to Marie Grover for providing the pictures below of the sumie East Asian Studies workshop and the field trip to the Kyoto Costume Museum.