Tea Video Letter and Tea of Grace

I uploaded two new videos yesterday, one is my new challenge "Tea of Grace" and another one is my thoughts about it. But as I didn't prepare the script, some of my English expression may have been messed up or difficult to understand, so I re-write it here. Plus I added some personal stories. I'm not sure whether sharing my personal matter is a good thing or not good thing here, but I decided to write a part of myself because I get here because of the past experiences. I just wish there is no one who feel discomfort by what I say, write or do.

I started making Tea Video Letter in May 2015, as my personal project, for sharing wonderful and beautiful things in learning the art of Japanese tea culture, because I have taken great pleasure, joys or wisdom from Japanese tea culture, now especially from Sencha-do.

It was for few foreign friends who were interested in Japanese tea. But there were viewers besides my friends and I was surprised there are so many people around the world who enjoy Japanese tea.

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As my grand mother made a bond with a school of Sencha-do and my mother has been learning about Sencha-do for many years (since she was 12!), Sencha-do has been familiar to me. My mother always took me to the class or tea gathering since I was a baby. I sometimes did a little help there. 

But after entering a junior high, I got busier with school studies, tennis club, activities at school or outside of the school. And I had less time for tea. 

Then, I went to Canada during a high school (when I was grade 11) for 10 months to study English and experience a new culture. My family wasn't that rich but as it was my biggest dream, my family let my dream come true. It was my first time to travel to (and of course live in) a foreign country. It became such a precious experience. I learnt and received so many things in Canada. About cultures, I could say I was more into Western cultures, life style or education more than Japanese back then.

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But unfortunately, my health condition started going bad around the time, it was a mental health mainly. Since I was a child, I tried to live up to the expectations of my family, relatives or teachers, unconsciously, my schedule was tight, I was trying hard but I was losing the purpose I think. Then, it became hard to keep the balance inside myself. 

This situation had been going for many many years. In the beginning, the mental health wasn't so opened in Japanese society, so everyone was so shocked at how I turned that no one knew what to do. I, myself didn't know what to do either, I felt so lonely, I tried some hospitals but it didn't go well. I was so ashamed and sorry how I became. It was difficult to accept the condition and situation after having tried to do good things and be better. 

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My past condition didn't let me study at the university or get a job and work hard like I imagined, like other people do. But after many years of suffering, my condition was becoming better little by little and I could re-meet Sencha-do. I noticed how much I enjoyed it. I could feel I was good at it, too. I could experience learning Sado (Chanoyu) in Kyoto from a great teacher who taught me many things and showed me a great beauty as well. It was another precious time for me, and I am so grateful for the teacher. 

In Kyoto, I happened to meet a lovely group TGM which supports foreign travelers and residents, so I had more opportunities to meet with foreign people and talk in English.

It has been a joy to exchange cultures, sharing the differences but also finding the commons, telling about each story each other. I started realizing two things I have liked very much : Japanese tea culture and exchanging thoughts and cultures with people around the world.

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It lead to Tea Video Letter in May 2015.

I wanted to share with people that there are so many aspects in one culture, Japanese tea culture. It's often misunderstood as a culture learning ONLY how to behave politely or to serve a cup of tea in an elegant manner. Of course it is a fact and that is important, too.

But it's a human communication, showing and receiving hospitality. It's a respect for nature and enjoying the change of the seasons. It's a beauty, arts and crafts, calligraphy, paintings, flowers, utensils ... It's behaving carefully and beautifully for other people and also for the utensils you use. It's finding a peace in yourself in this busy and chaotic world.

So you can approach it from various angles, and there are thousands ways to enjoy a cup of tea by each person. There are many things to learn.

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Then, as I saw there are many kinds of tea by the person who does tea, I started to wonder ... "What kind of tea I really want to do?". It made me think deeply.

For me, tea is almost like a religion. And the moment of serving a cup of tea (in a procedure, especially) is similar to praying, similar to a prayer, because when I serve a cup of tea, I think of the nature, for example, where the water is coming from, where the tea leaves are coming from, where all the materials and ingredients of utensils or even sweets are coming from, they are mostly from nature. And I think of people who made them, I think of people's hands that create beauty. I think of people I care of and I hope to send my gratitude, care, compassion, wish or love towards them.

If it's possible, I would love to serve a cup of tea in person, for someone who needs that, because serving a cup of tea and sharing the moment together is also like holding hands to me. But as I can't afford it now, I hope to send a peaceful atmosphere or moment in your heart and to be a little help in my way, even through a video.

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There are so many sad matters, painful moments, cruel realities, difficulties for any body. Life isn't easy to survive. So, that is why I think each person needs a cup of tea, a moment in peace in each person's way. And you meet beautiful moment, scenery, things or people's connection time to time, even you are in a dark place, for sure. 

I wish you meet such beautiful, warm, gentle, intriguing or lovely moments as much as you can. 

Thank you very much for reading that far. I am so grateful to have you in my life, in my tea journey.

Sincerely,

Yuko