U of I Japan House hosting Spring Open House this weekend
URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — The Japan House at the University of Illinois will feature formal tea ceremonies, Japanese art pieces and a special guest from Kyoto for their Spring Open House on Saturday.
The event also celebrates the 25th anniversary of Japan House, and includes a series of three one-hour traditional Japanese tea ceremonies: starting at 11 a.m., noon and 1 p.m. These will be conducted by the Chado Urasenke Tankokai Urbana-Champaign Association, who will use recipes from Kimiko Gunji, Professor Emeritus of Japanese Arts & Culture. Recipes include freshly whisked matcha and “wagashi,” a Japanese sweet.
Tea ceremony guests are asked to dress with legs covered, as is tradition in Japan. Shoes must also be removed when entering Japan House, so be sure to wear socks.
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Gardener Susan Kapacinskas will also offer 45-minute garden tours at 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. for $5 per person. Japan House officials ask garden tour attendees to dress appropriately for outdoors, especially shoes, as there is an uneven stone path in the tea garden.
Miniature ikebana pieces from the students of ARTJ 199: Ikebana will also be on display throughout the event. Ikebana is the ancient Japanese art of flower arrangement.
At 2 p.m., special guest Bruce Sosei Hamana, expert Omar Francis, and students from the Chado Urasenke Tankokai Urbana-Champaign Association will demonstrate “ooyosechakai,” a formal tea gathering, and the etiquette required within it. This demonstration will be free.
Hamana is flying in from Japan for the event. Hamana is a tea professor who attended the Japan House’s grand opening in 1998. He joined Dr. Genshitsu Sen, a 15th Generation Grandmaster of the Urasenke School of Tea, as his translator. Over 25 years later, Hamana will finally return to the Japan House for their annual Spring Open House.
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After the “ooyosechakai” demonstration, Hamana will speak on “Beautiful Words in the Way of Tea: Chakaiki and Toriawase.” The lecture will present tea gathering records and explain how equipment is selected for tea ceremonies. There are 30 spots open for this free lecture, so it will be first-come, first-served.
Though the demonstration and lecture are free, donations are encouraged, Japan House officials said. Otherwise, tickets are $16 per person for tea ceremony attendance. They said no walk-ins will be accepted to ensure tranquility.
To purchase tickets and see more details, click here.
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