New Introduction to Chado Class forming for January

A new Introduction to Chado class is forming, starting on January 14, 2015, from 7:00-8:30 and runs for 10 weeks. The class will be held in my tatami mat room at Issoan Tea School, 17761 NW Marylhurst Ct. Portland, OR 97229.  That is 4 blocks South of Rock Creek PCC.

Students will learn the etiquette of how to be a guest at a tea ceremony, the basic order of the tea ceremony and how to whisk green powdered ceremonial tea. Students will also participate in at least 6 Japanese tea ceremonies. An overview of Japanese aesthetics and how tea has influenced Japanese culture will be presented. Students will also be introduced to tea ceramics, calligraphy, kimono dressing, and incense ceremony, flower arranging, and Japanese gardens. They will also be introduced to zazen meditation and discuss how to put tea practice into every day life.

If you have questions, you can email me, margie at issoantea.com, or call 503-645-7058.

The class fee is $250 and that includes all tea and sweets, materials, handouts, guest kit to borrow. Enrollment is limited to 5 students. You can pre-register to reserve your spot by sending deposit of $50.00.  Just click on the button in the left hand column to send your deposit via Paypal.

Upcoming events at Issoan Tea school

June 8 - Sunday, 10:00 am, Kimono Exchange and Dogu sale Issoan Tea School

June 14-15 Saturday and Sunday, Seattle trip for Bellevue Art Museum chakai and Origami exhibition, and Sunday koshukai (intensive study) with Bonnie-sensei.  If you are interested in this please let me know by June 7, so we can arrange carpooling and lodging.  No Saturday classes

June 21 -Saturday, Public tea demo at the Portland Japanese Garden, 1:00- 300 pm.  Saturday class at the Japanese Garden at noon.  Let me know if you can attend.

June 22 - Sunday, Sweets workshop 10:00 am, at Issoan Tea school

June 29 - Sunday, Kagetsu 1:30 pm at Mieko sensei's house

July 13 -Sunday Yukata making class at Kate's house.  (more details to come)

July 14- August 4 - Issoan Tea School closed.  Please enjoy your summer vacations

July 27 - Sunday, Kagetsu at Mieko sensei's house

August 2 - Saturday, Obon Festival 3-9 pm, Oregon Buddhist Temple

August 3 - Sunday, Seichuki Memorial, Henjyoji Temple

August 5 - Tuesday, 10:00 am, Classes resume at Issoan Tea School

August 24 - Sunday, Issoan Chakai at Issoan Tea School

August 31 - Sunday, Kagetsu at Mieko Sensei's house

NEW Class! Beginning Chado: Tray Style

The Beginning Chado: Tray Style class begins on Wednesday May 7.
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In this class, students are introduced to the principles of making tea, including how to fold fukusa, purification of tea utensils and closing procedures.

Students will also learn good mizuya habits, as well as preparation of the tea room, and cleaning up.

There will be more emphasis on the guest role and we will cover topics such as flower arranging for tea, making sweets, kimono dressing  and other cultural studies.

It is helpful to have taken the Introduction to Chado class, but not necessary. Please bring  Fukusabasami (guest kit) and white socks to class.  If you do not have a fukusabasami, one will be provided.


Beginning Chado: Tray style
Wednesdays 7-9 pm for 10 weeks, starting May 7, 2014
Fees:  $250
Issoan Tea Room, 17761 N.W. Marylhurst Ct., Portland, OR 97229
Instructor: Margie Yap

Please reserve your place now,  with a $50 deposit,  in the left hand column.  Balance due at the first class.

If you have questions, please email Margie, or call 503-645-7058

Issoan Tea School Events

Sunday,  April 6, 10 am, Kimono exchange at Issoan Tea School

Saturday, April 12, 2:00 pm, Camellia Festival Chado presentation.  Saturday class meets at Chehelem Cultural Center for presentation.

Thursday, April 17, 1:00-4:00, Sakura Festival Chado information booth, Clark College, Vancouver,WA.

Tuesday, April 22, NO CLASS

Sunday, April 27, 10:00 am, Introduction to Chado Final Chakai, Portland Japanese Garden.  Please arrive by 9:30 am.

Don't forget, intermediate class is moved to Thursday nights.  April 3rd, and May 1 class will be held Eastside Portland at Kate's house.

Elevate your temae

I have a few students who can no longer sit seiza on tatami.  Some of them are sad because there are only a few table style temae you can do.  And there is no difference in the seasons for table style.  So I had a plan for them.

In Portland, we have been rather snowed in for the last three days.  That means that Mr. Sweetpersimmon has been in the shop and I have been at the sewing machine.  Look what we completed this week.  I asked my husband to build me a tatami table so that my students who cannot kneel can sit and make tea on stools.  From photos and diagrams he designed and built not only a tatami table, but a table that can fit a sunken ro.  He also designed the two tables to be portable.  They fold up into two boxes.  Not only that, he made the right hand table so that it can be changed out for the furo season. This means that we can do any temae on this table.  Which is good, because he will soon close the tea room for phase 2 of the renovations, and we can still have class on the tatami table.

Portable elevated tatami with sunken ro

Activities at Issoan

For my blog readers, I apologize for not posting.  It seems like I do this periodically  - get out of the habit of blogging and then let it go for a while.  I will do better in the future.

Let's see, we have been busy this summer.  To begin with we have had a workshop or special event since August.  (Image heavy post follows)  Here are some photos from the chashaku carving and bamboo hanaire making workshop

 

Then we had a chabana class

And then in September we had a kaiseki cooking class

Also in September we had Nomura-san from Soujuan kimono who came to exhibit his art kimono and sell kimono and accessories. Kageyama-san came too and she gave kimono dressing lessons as well,

Whew, that's a lot, but we still have more to come....I'll post them tomorrow.

Issoan Tea School News and Events

Saturday, July 20, 1 and 2 pm 
Chanoyu demonstration at Kashintei, the teahouse at the Portland Japanese Garden

Sunday July 21st
Seichuki at Kashintei, the Portland Japanese Garden teahouse

Friday, August 2; 5-8 pm Chehalem Cultural Center August ArtWalk celebrates the world of woodfire ceramics with our exhibition of master ceramicists from around the region: "West Coast Woodfire: A Legacy of Innovation and Influence." 6:00 pm: Margie Yap will be here to demonstrate a traditional Japanese tea ceremony, highlighting the woodfired tea bowls featured in the exhibit.

Saturday August 3, Oregon Buddhist Temple's Obonfest 2013 from 3:00 pm to 9:00pm. Join us for food, gifts, entertainment and dancing. This year's Obonfest features -- Food items: yakisoba, yakiniku, yakitori, shave ice, manju, chirashi sushi, beer garden, soft drinks, Spam musubi
Program: Tanuki Taiko, Portland Taiko*, Martial Arts Demonstration, Temple Talks, Bon Odori (public dance)
Vendors: Michiko Selby (Oshie art using chiyogami paper), Miwa McCree (massage), Kaori Oya (Shiatsu massage), Hiroshi Ogawa (Japanese Pottery), Margie Yap from Sweet Persimmon (handmade purses and meditation products), Karen Fullerton (notecards and art), Kinokuniya Bookstore (Japanese books, music, misc items) Others: Omiyage shop, T-shirt sale, children's corner, raffle

Sunday August 11, Chashaku/Bamboo Hanire Workshop. 10 am -noon at Issoan Tea Room. Fee is $35.
Bamboo chashaku, tea scoop carving and flower vase workshop. Bamboo materials, saws, chisels and knives provided, if you have your own carving knife, or utility knife please bring it. Demonstration of techniques, but mostly hands-on working the bamboo. Space limited to 6. Sign up and reserve your space via Paypal at left. THIS WORKSHOP IS FULL, CONTACT ME TO GET ON THE WAITING LIST

Regular classes at Issoan Tea Room:
Wednesdays 7-9 pm - Intermediate studies
Thursdays 7-9 pm - Beginning Chado
Saturdays 1-3 pm - Beginning Chado
Saturdays 3-5 pm - Intermediate studies

New Class: Beginning Chado

As an instructor of Chado, I am continually thinking of ways to pass on what I have learned and instill in my students the enthusiasm and joy that I feel in the way of tea.   Being connected to the rich history of chado and honoring all of the efforts my own teachers have invested in me, make me glad that I have found a passion in life that I can share with others.

I have developed a new class for students who have taken the Introduction class and would like to continue.

Beginning Chado class.  It will begin Friday, June 7 from 7-9 pm, and run for 10 weeks.  In this class students will learn a complete tea ceremony procedure called ryakubon, or tray style.  It is a complete tea ceremony with all the essential elements, but you can do it without a lot of equipment or tea room.  I have shared tea this way for public presentations, and also while hiking, in the living room, on the train, in my hotel room while traveling and under the cherry blossoms.  Students will also deepen their understanding of the guest role, learn to make different types of sweets, and learn basic preparation and set up of the tea room.  We will begin to explore seasonal aspects of the tea ceremony, and at the end, put on a tea gathering for friends and family.  Come join us for this class.

You need not have taken the Introduction to Chanoyu class, but it is recommended.  For those interested, please reserve your place by using the Paypal button to the left, or contact Margie 503-645-7058, margie@issoantea.com.

The last of the Sakura

To my regular readers, I am sorry that I have not posted in so long.   I promise to post more regularly in the future.

In the meantime, Sakura season has come and is nearly gone.  The late cherries are dropping their petals like snow and it is getting warm and sunny here in the Pacific Northwest.

There have been so many activities the last few months, from Girl's Day to the Camellia Festival and Sakura Festival demonstrations.  We had a visit to Portland from Soujuan Kimono from Kyoto and got a kimono dressing lesson.   The Friday night Introduction to Chanoyu class had their final chakai at the Portland Japanese Garden, and the advanced students are now studying chabako.  Also students Colorado visited Issoan and we had several sewing classes for our practice kimono. The Saturday Introduction to Chanoyu had their calligraphy class, incense and poetry class, and tea bowl appreciation class.  Only 4 more lessons and they, too will have their final chakai.

With that, I am announcing the Beginning Chado class.  It will begin Friday, June 7 from 7-9 pm, and run for 10 weeks.  In this class students will further their training on the guest role, learn how to purify utensils, make sweets, serve tea from the kitchen with goal of conducting a basic tea ceremony in the ryakubon, or tray style.  You need not have taken the Introduction to Chanoyu class, but it is recommended.  For those interested, please reserve your place by using the Paypal button to the left, or contact Margie 503-645-7058, margie@issoantea.com.

Worshops and events scheduled for this spring

Eventing Chaban

A lot of things are going on this spring at Issoan Tea School

Kagetsu study, Sunday February 24th, 1:30-4:00

Kimono dressing workshop: Saturday March 9-3-4 pm.  Bring your kimono and accessories.  Individual help in dressing yourself will be provided.

Soujuan Kimono of Kyoto will be in Portland Wednesday March 13,  7-9 pm.  A short talk on kimono and kimono dressing lesson from Ms. Kageyama, professional dresser.

New Introduction to Chado class begins Saturday March 9, 1-3 pm for 10 Saturdays.  Cost is $250.  Please reserve your spot with $50 deposit by clicking on Paypal in the left column.  Space is limited and filling up quickly.

April Kaiseki cooking class - Basics of kaiseki, the meal for Japanese Tea Ceremony.  We will prepare and serve a basic menu for spring chaji.  Kaiseki dogu, preparation and timing will be covered.  A shopping trip for ingredients will be included if students are available.

If anyone is interested, please contact Margie 503-645-7058, margie@issoantea.com

One place left in the new Introduction Class

Editor's Note: The class is now filled.  Please contact me if you'd like to be on the waiting list.

The new Introduction to Japanese Culture and Chado Class begins this Friday, January 11, 2013 and meets on Fridays for 10 weeks.  We have a new venue at
Portland Tea Enthusiasts’ Alliance
828 Southeast Ash Street, #204
Portland, OR 97214

Fee: $250, includes all equipment, tea, sweets and supplies for all classes including calligraphy, kimono and incense. Only one place is left in the class.  Please contact me immediately if you would like to join us:  margie@issoantea.com, 503-645-7058.  Full tuition is due at the first class, and I take cash, check or credit card.


Tea ceremony in Japan is called Chanoyu, literally “hot water for tea.” Sen Rikyu, who established the foundations of the spiritual path of Chado (the way of tea), lived in the 16th century teaching wabi-cha, or tea of quiet taste. In Chado the spiritual aspect is most important. We learn the heart of Chado through the ceremony of drinking tea. The basic principles are expressed in the words harmony, respect, purity and tranquility. Harmony can be created between persons, between objects, between a person and an object – among all matters of the world. This is illustrated in the interactions between a host and a guest and the tea utensils handled. In Chado, we should respect every one and everything without distinction of status or rank. Spiritual purity is essential. We can embody tranquility only when we make harmony, respect, and purity our own. By learning Chado, we seek to obtain an ultimate peace of mind. The present Grand Tea Master teaches the thought of “peacefulness through a bowl of tea.” It is very simple if we are just making tea and drinking tea, but if we trying to understand the heart of Chanoyu, we can find that it is not just making and drinking tea. Through preparing a bowl of tea we learn to look within ourself, respect one another, make peace with others and express gratitude toward all things.
In this ten week class, students will be introduced to Chado, the way of tea. The arts of Japan will be examined through the ritual preparation and drinking of matcha, Japanese ceremonial tea.  Students will participate in at least six tea ceremonies, an incense ceremony, and kimono dressing.  Japanese architecture, gardening, flower arranging and calligraphy will also be covered

'Tis the season

Yesterday was Black Friday, the busiest shopping day of the year. Today is small business Saturday and Cyber Monday coming up.  It is officially now the shopping, buying and consuming season until the end of the year.

When my husband and I were first married, I asked him not to buy me things for occasions like birthdays and Christmas.  Instead, I asked him to buy me experiences.  He has been forced to be creative and yes, he has delivered in giving me experience gifts, from a home-catered meal to a private concert, to season theater tickets.   He also has arranged for me to dig a ditch with a back hoe and a consultation with a master gardener. I have been taken the Highland games and a trip to the Grand Canyon.  He has bought me sewing classes and a chance to race a car on the track Portland International Raceway. 

 We have agreed this year to give only one gift and shop local, and by the way, extra points for experience over things.

Perhaps for this year, you too can give the gift of experience for Christmas.  There is a new Introduction to Chado class beginning in January.  You can also give the experience of a Japanese Tea Ceremony by Issoan Tea School.  For more information, visit Issoantea.com.

October Workshops

Please don't forget to make reservations for our October workshops:

Saturday, October 6, 10 am- Kimono alteration class, including taking measurement for proper fit of kimono. Issoan Tea School.
Saturday, October 13, 10 am - Field trip to Bamboo Gardens, North Plains.  Meet at Issoan Tea School at 9:30 for carpooling.  A tour of the garden, cultivation tips, working bamboo for vases and tea scoops are scheduled.
Sunday, October 14th 10 am - Kimono alteration continued.  Meet at Kate's house, bring sewing machine if you have one.
Saturday, October 20 12:30 pm - Public demonstration at the Portland Japanese Garden
Sunday October 28 1:30 pm - Kagetsu at Mieko sensei's house.  Sumi tsuki kagetsu planned..

Call Margie at 503-645-7058 or email margie@issoantea.com to reserve your spot

Fall Introduction to Chado Class

The Fall Beginners Class: Introduction to Chado, The Japanese Tea Ceremony is now forming.

Students will learn the etiquette of how to be a guest at a tea ceremony, the basic order of the tea ceremony and how to whisk green powdered ceremonial tea. Students will also participate in Japanese tea ceremonies.  An overview of Japanese aesthetics and how tea has influenced Japanese culture will be presented.  Students will also be introduced to tea ceramics, calligraphy, kimono dressing, and incense ceremony. They will also be introduced to zazen meditation and discuss how to put tea practice into every day life.

Meets, Thursdays 6-8:30, for 10 weeks starting October 4, 2012
Fee: $250, includes all equipment, tea, sweets and supplies for all classes including calligraphy, kimono and incense.

We have a new SE Portland venue:

Portland Tea Enthusiasts' Alliance
828 Southeast Ash Street, #204
Portland, OR 97214

To register contact
Marjorie Yap, Instructor
Phone: 503.645.7058,
margie@issoantea.com
website www.issoantea.com

Alternate contact while I am out of town

(971) 258-2832

Email: mail@pdxtea.org

 

Workshops for Tea Ceremony

Thursday, October 4, 2012 - 6:00pm :
Japan and the Culture of the Four Seasons - Nature, Literature, and the Arts, (click link for more information)
Portland State University
We plan to dress in kimono, attend the lecture and have a snack afterwards.  Please join us.







Saturday October 6th, 10 am to 2 pm 
Kimono alterations class 
Issoan Tea Room
Kimono too short?  Not wide enough?  Kate has been successful in altering kimono to fit differnt body shapes. Bring your kimono to work on.  She will teach us how to measure for kimono, where to add length, how to widen side seams and much more.   We  will also learn proper fitting and kimono dressing.  Please join us.  Call Margie to register 503-645-7058


Saturday October 13, 10 am - 2 pm 
Field trip to the Bamboo Gardens
North Plains
We will meet at Issoan Tea School and carpool to Bamboo Gardens where we will tour the garden, learn about bamboo cultivation, and how to work the bamboo for crafts.  This will be  good in preparation for chashaku carving and flower vase making workshop later this year..  For reservations and carpool information, call Margie 503-645-7058


Sunday October 14th, 10 am
Completion of Kimono alterations class
Kate 's house 
After homework assignment, we will complete our kimono alterations. (bring sewing machine if you have one).  If there is interest, we may have ongoing sewing workshops including sewing a kimono from scratch, shifuku making workshop and making bags for chabako.  Please call Margie to register.  503-645-7058

More workshops to come

Kobukusa Magic

We had a kobukusa making workshop a couple of weeks ago, and I promised that I'd post pictures from the workshop.  We had 4 participants, and Kate was our teacher.  She supplied silk fabric, silk thread, needles, patterns, instructions and sewing advice and help.

Everyone who had brought their sewing kits, supplies and eagerness to learn.

We started with the fabric, pattern and instructions:

Measured and pinned:

Stitched: 

Pressed:

Turned with a little bit of kobukusa magic we had a finished product.

Kobukusa making workshop at Issoan Tea

Date: Sunday, August 12, 1-3 pm
Where: Issoan Tea School 17761 NW Marylhurst Ct. Portland, OR 97229
Make reservations by Friday August 10, 5 pm. 503-645-7058
Fee: $10

We are lucky to have talented students at Issoan.   This Sunday August 12 there will be a kobukusa making workshop from 1-3pm at Issoan Tea. That little square of brocade cloth is used in many instances such as serving tea from the kitchen, haiken, displaying utensils and intermediate and upper temae.

Kate has generously agreed to teach the workshop and will be providing practice fabric, patterns and teaching the workshop.  Bring  a sewing kit if you have one.  If you do not, we will supply everything.   Please call to make your reservations for this workshop by Friday evening, August 10, 503-645-7058.

Stay tuned we have other workshops planned for this fall.

Beginning Chanoyu

I have a new class that I will be offering this spring

Beginning Chanoyu

In this 10 week class, students will learn  the first procedure, Ryakubon.  It is a complete tea ceremony with all the essential elements, but you can do it without a lot of equipment or tea room.  I have shared tea this way for public presentations, and also while hiking, in the living room, on the train, in my hotel room while traveling and under the cherry blossoms.  Students will also deepen their understanding of the guest role, learn to make a couple of different types of sweets, and learn basic preparation and set up of the tea room.  We will begin to explore seasonal aspects of the tea ceremony, and at the end, put on a tea gathering for friends and family.  Come join us for this class.

When:  Starts Saturday, April 28th, 3:00-5:00 pm and goes for 10 weeks, fee is $250
Where: Issoan Tea Room, 17761 NW Marylhurst Ct., Portland, OR 97229
Very limited enrollment.  Please call Margie 503-645-7058 to register.  margie AT gmail.com