Photograph by Robert Scheer
Aiko Tauchi presides over the Japanese tea ceremony, with a student in the background.
By Mark Kregel
When Aiko Tauchi came to the United States from Japan 36 years ago, she thought she knew everything about her homeland.
After living in the U.S. for a couple of years, she felt something was missing, and she started to learn as much as she could about the traditional Japanese tea ceremony.
"When you want to learn something, you really study seriously," Tauchi said.
After developing proficiency, she started to teach the ceremony at Foothill College in Los Altos Hills as part of their Japanese culture program. Since then, she has become Saratoga's tea ceremony expert. She teaches the art to several students and performs the ceremony for visiting Japanese dignitaries.
One of the rooms of her house on Miljevich Avenue is set aside for the practice. The ceremony, an integral part of Japanese culture, begins with the server lighting special wood mixed with incense. The server then boils the water used for the tea and mixes it with powdered green tea. The green tea used in the ceremony is to regular tea what espresso is to coffee--strong and flavorful.
All elements are considered in the ceremony, from the kimono worn to the scroll painting hung on the wall. Manners are important as well; when one drinks the tea, the front of the teacup is turned facing the server to show respect. After the ceremony, the server gives out candy to counter the bitter taste of the tea.
The ceremony originated in China in 1191, Tauchi said. Since then, the ceremony has been adopted by Japan and has been revised for Japanese culture.
"My students who study advanced tea ceremony study the original Chinese tea ceremony," Tauchi said.
Of her 30 students learning the culture for the first time, five are not of Japanese descent. Tauchi said the willingness of Americans of one culture to learn another has always impressed her. "I have always admired the American public's attitude, which is very understanding and appreciating of other cultures," Tauchi said.
Tauchi makes regular trips to Japan to study her art.
"When you teach, you must always refresh your knowledge," she said. "I will always be a student."
This article appeared in the Saratoga News, April 9, 1997.
©1997 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.