Saratoga News

Photograph by George Sakkestad

Aiko Tauchi, tea consultant for Saratoga's Hakone Gardens, pours water into a steaming bowl in preparation for making tea. Representatives of a different school of tea ceremony will be featured June 9 at Hakone.

Hakone program looks at history and culture of tea

Japanese tea lovers will share their knowledge

By Carolyn Leal

Most people know that tea tastes good in the afternoon or morning. But few know much about the history and cultural significance of tea.

Tea, and its importance around the world, will be the focus during a fifth Tea Roots Cultural Exchange Program on Sunday, June 9, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Hakone Gardens, 21000 Big Basin Way.

Dr. Morihiti Nagai of Japan, a benefactor of Hakone Gardens and supporter of the cultural exchange program, is bringing some 20 Japanese tea lovers to participate in the day's tea-oriented activities.

The guests are members of Homei-kai, a Japanese organization of tea lovers interested in tea-drinking customs and in the botanical aspects of tea cultivation.

There will be displays, lectures on tea and the opportunity to participate in an authentic Japanese tea ceremony of a different school than that practiced by Aiko Tauchi, Hakone Gardens' tea consultant.

The program includes a talk on how tea connects the world by Satoru Matushita, president of the Homei-kai tea organization. Akira Kato, vice president of Homei-kai, will discuss the custom of tea drinking around the world.

An outdoor tea ceremony will be presided over by Mrs. Nobuko Yokoi and company from the Omote Senke School, and by Mrs. Koshin Shimizu and company.

The art of the tea ceremony is a synthesis of many Japanese arts, with the focus on preparing and serving a bowl of green tea with a pure and open heart, according to Tauchi.

An exhibition on the "History of Tea in Japan" by Homei-kai will be on view in Hakone's Lower House. Tea was first introduced to Japan from China, with Buddhism in the sixth century, but it was not until 1191 that tea took root in Japan. Tea was initially used by Buddhist priests for ceremonies and as a medicine, according to Tauchi.

Admission for the day's events is $10 and advance reservations are required. Send checks to Hakone Foundation, Box 2324 Saratoga, 95370. For more information, call the Hakone Foundation, 741-4994.