What if your friend invites you to attend the tea ceremony?/もし友達が茶道に誘ってくれたら…

Japanese sweets that you eat before you drink the tea.

What if your friend invites you to attend the tea ceremony?
Are you ready to go?
Even if your answer is no, no worries!
You will be ready after you have finished reading this article.

The tea ceremony consists mainly of three parts, making the tea, drinking the tea and appreciating the tea bowl.
When the host is making tea, you will enjoy watching his/her amazing skills while eating Japanese sweets which are served by the host.

When the tea is finally served in front of you, you should follow the procedure below:

Bow to the server.
Move the tea bowl between the two（myself and the person next to you who will be served the tea next.）.
Bow while saying “Osakini” means “excuse me for drinking it before you”.
Bow while saying “Otemae chodai shimasu” means “Thank you for making tea”.
Hold tea bowl up while saying “Itadakimasu” silently.(refer to the article to know “Itadakimasu”)
Turn around the tea bowl for twice clockwise (90 degrees) so that the front side of the tea bowl is not used to pay respect to it.
TSip three and a half times (only as a guide). No drop should remain inside because the tea bowl will be examined later. Making a sound while sipping does not matter.
With the thumb and index finger, wipe the part of the tea bowl where the mouth touched.
Then wipe fingers with a paper inserted around the chest.
Turn around the tea bowl twice counterclockwise (90 degrees) so that the front side of the tea bowl comes back.

Talking about the appreciation of the tea bowl, first, look around the appearance of the tea bowl.
Second, look at the details while holding the tea bowl. The elbows should be placed on the knees so that you will not drop the valuable tea bowls.
Third, check the shape, patterns and producer’s name.
Lastly, bow after finishing the appreciation.

How do you feel? We hope you will manage that.
The image training might be helpful.
Why don’t you share your experience if you have already had one?
Comment below!

もし友達から茶道に誘われたらどうしますか。
準備万端ですか。
もしそうでないとしても、ご心配なく。
この記事を読み終えた頃には、大丈夫でしょう。

茶道は大きく分けて、お茶を点てる、お茶を戴く、お茶碗を愛でるの３部構成です。
主人がお茶を点てている時は、出された和菓子を頂きながら、その素晴らしい所作を眺めて楽しみましょう。

いよいよお茶が運ばれてきたら、以下のような手順で戴きましょう。