The tea ceremony was conducted by the Ura-Senke Tea club of Japan Club Kuala Lumpur. All the instructors were properly attired in their Kimono, looking demure and well-suited for the occasion. The library area was decorated with meaningful scrolls and elegant flowers “Cha-Bana”. In line with the current season of Japan, the autumn-themed tea set was intentionally selected for use in the ceremony. Before the ceremony began, our lecturer explained the history, meaning and steps of Japanese Tea Ceremony while her partner demonstrated the tea-making process “Temae”. Participants were taught that it is important to always be

[ Temae ]

grateful and respectful of everything one receives from others, including the tea cups “Cha-wan”. Hence, one must take a strong sip on the last sip to make a slurping sound to express appreciation of the good tea served.

After the demonstration, tea and snacks were served. Everyone was amazed by the unique taste of Japanese green tea, which is an inviting combination of its bitterness with a tantalizing aroma. A sip of tea followed by a bite of sweet Japanese snack neutralizes the bitterness, allowing one to enjoy the organic taste of herbal tea. Subsequently to wrap up the event, a photo-taking session enabled everyone to retain lasting memory of the short yet meaningful cross-cultural experience they just had.

Even though the Ryurei-style Japanese Tea Ceremony does not require guests to sit in a “Sei-Za” (kneeling on both knees) position, decoration of the venue and the conscientiousness of our lecturers brought a touch of Japanese Zen into the scene. All guests were very quiet and concentrated well during the ceremony and this, undoubtedly, gave them a precious peaceful moment in their minds.