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What to bring to a tea ceremony? What tools are necessary for tea ceremony and what is useful to have?

The tea ceremony is a traditional Japanese ritual. Many people are attracted by the beauty of the tea utensils and the manners of the tea ceremony, and many are interested in it. If you are invited to a tea ceremony party, what preparations should you make? When attending a tea ceremony, you should have the necessary utensils in plenty of time.

Here, for those who attend a tea ceremony tea party, we will introduce the basic items to bring and what is useful to have. We also explain what to wear at the tea ceremony, so please use this information to help you prepare for the day of the event.

What to bring to a tea ceremony

If you plan to attend a tea ceremony, you will need to bring the following items. Although there are several schools of tea ceremony, the following items are generally used in most classes of all schools, so it is a good idea to have them ready.

Hakuza (a small cloth used to wrap the tea ceremony utensils)

A fukusa is a cloth used for purifying tea utensils and viewing tea bowls during the tea ceremony. Otsukumae refers to the series of steps in preparing tea in the tea ceremony. Not only the host, but also the guests need to bring their own Hakuza. Generally, men use purple and women use red or vermilion. In the case of Urasenke, a small piece of cloth called a "kobukusa" is also used.

Kaishi

Kaishi is disposable Japanese paper used at tea ceremonies. It is used in a variety of situations, such as as a plate to serve sweets, or to wipe the tea bowl or one's mouth. When attending a tea ceremony in a kimono, it is placed in the pocket along with the hakuza.

Kashikiri (confectionery cutter)

The kashikiri is a tool used to cut and eat sweets served at tea ceremonies. It is also called a "confectionary toothpick. The sweets are placed on a piece of kaishi paper and cut into bite-sized pieces with the kashikiri. Commercial products are usually sold as a set with a toothpick holder that can be used for carrying.

folding fan

A fan in the tea ceremony is used for greeting guests at tea ceremonies, entering the tea room, and viewing the tea utensils. Although there are differences in etiquette among tea ceremony schools, basically a fan is placed in front of you to create a boundary (= boundary) and to respect the other person. Unlike a fan used for cooling off, a fan in the tea ceremony is not used by opening it and looking up.

The online store of "Ijasen," a long-established folding fan maker since the Edo period, handles folding fans for use in the tea ceremony. The size of a fan suitable for tea ceremony differs depending on the school and whether it is for men or women, so those who wish to purchase a fan as a tea utensil should check with their teacher at the tea ceremony school they attend. In our online store, we carry 5" size fans that are often used in tea ceremonies. If you are looking for a fan for a tea ceremony, please take a look at our lineup.

Useful Items for Tea Ceremony

In addition to the basic items to bring, the following items are also useful for tea ceremonies, depending on the tea ceremony school. The following is a list of items that are useful to have with you when attending a tea ceremony.

Kochakin (small tea cloth)

A kochakin is a utensil used to cleanse the mouth of the tea bowl after the tea has been served. There are two types of kochakin: paper and cloth. Paper kochakin are often moistened and carried in a waterproof kochakin container. It is sometimes used in the case of Urasenke, so it is important to check it together with the kojakin container.

Kaishiire (Kaishi container)

Kaishiire is a container for carrying kaishi (tea paper). It is also called "Haku-sa-basami" or "Sukiya-bukuro. In addition to kaishi, it can also be used to carry other utensils such as a hakuza, a confectionery knife, and a fan. It is convenient for tea ceremony and practice.

Furoshiki

Furoshiki is a cloth used to wrap and carry things. If you attend a tea ceremony in a kimono, you can fold up your jacket, such as a do-gyo coat, and wrap it in a furoshiki. You may want to bring your own if necessary.

Seiza chair

A seiza chair is an item that supports the seiza posture and reduces numbness in the legs. For use at tea ceremonies, we recommend that you choose a compact and easily portable product.

Accessory case

In the tea ceremony, it is etiquette to remove jewelry to avoid damaging the precious tea utensils. All rings, necklaces, watches, etc. should be removed before the tea ceremony and stored in an accessory case to prevent loss.

Manners of Dressing for a Tea Ceremony

When attending a tea ceremony, etiquette is required not only in terms of what you bring with you, but also in terms of what you wear on the day of the tea ceremony. Whether you are attending in a kimono or clothes, you should dress appropriately for the tea ceremony. Finally, here are some manners on how to dress for a tea ceremony.

Wear white tabi socks or white socks

In general, white tabi (socks) or white socks should be worn at the feet to keep the tea ceremony room clean. Depending on the school, it is also possible to bring clean white tabi or white socks to the venue and change them just before entering the tea room. Regardless of whether you are a man or a woman, you should generally prepare white tabi socks or white socks.

Basically, wear kimono.

Generally, the basic rule is that both men and women wear kimonos at tea ceremonies. Since the concept differs depending on the school or class, please check the etiquette of the tea ceremony you will attend in advance.

For kimono, women should wear a semi-formal kimono, such as a colored kimono with a crest or a visiting kimono, as well as a komon. For obi (sash), a double-breasted obi or Nagoya obi should be worn. For men, it is common to wear a hakama with a montsuki. Kimono rank may vary depending on the tea ceremony, so please check in advance.

In the case of Western-style clothing, women should wear clean, less revealing attire such as pants or below-the-knee skirts and dresses. For men, plain suits in dark colors such as black or navy blue are appropriate. On the contrary, casual attire such as denim and jerseys should be avoided.

When attending a tea ceremony tea party, you should keep in mind the rules for what to bring and what to wear before the day of the tea ceremony, and be prepared to spend the day in a relaxed manner. The etiquette of tea ceremony is also explained in detail in the related article below. In addition to what to bring and what to wear to a tea ceremony, we also provide tips on what to keep in mind, so please be sure to read them as well.

What are the manners of tea ceremony? Dress, seating order, how to drink tea and eat sweets

Prepare your tea ceremony belongings well in advance!

We have explained the necessary belongings for a tea ceremony tea party. Since the necessary belongings for a tea ceremony party or practice differ depending on the school or class, it is recommended that you check with your teacher. Many schools use the basic items listed above for their tea ceremonies, so if you are interested in the tea ceremony, it would be a good idea to have them ready.

Ibasen, a long-established fan shop, handles fans, which are an indispensable part of the tea ceremony paraphernalia. If you are looking for a fan to use at a tea ceremony, or if you want to choose a fan with a particular design, please visit Ibasen's online store. You will be able to find a long-lasting fan from our diverse lineup. Please feel free to contact us for more information about our fans.