日本から帰国早々、4月16日に植物園内の茶室・長野庵でお茶会を開きました。当日は晴天に恵まれましたが、朝は風がまだ冷たく、日本庭園の池の中にある茶室はさらに気温が2度くらい低いのではないかしらと思うほどでした。日が高くなるにつれ段々暖かくなってきて、桜が散った後の春紅葉の赤い新芽が美しく、澄み切った空気の中でのお茶会はまた格別のものでした。
On April 16th, we had Ochakai at the teahouse called “Nagano-an” inside the Japanese Garden at the Missouri Botanical Garden. It was a beautiful clear day with a chilly wind in the morning. Since the tea room is surrounded by a pond, it felt colder than other parts of the garden. After the cherry blossom season, the new leaves, red and green, on the tree were beautiful, and the tea ceremony in its surrounding was refreshing and special.
それぞれのお茶席には、亭主を務める生徒さん達のご家族、友人が招かれ、皆さま『身の浄めらるような体験でした』『このような美味しい一服のお茶をいただいたのは初めて』等々の感動を述べてくださいました。
We had four hosts performed the ceremony throughout the day. Each host served tea to their family and friends. We received comments and appreciation from the guests, such as “ it was a cleansing experience”, and “the most delicious bowl of tea ever experienced.”
