Kimono Designer to visit Portland

We are lucky to be able to host Naoki Nomura, kimono designer from Kyoto, Japan in Portland.  Nomura-san, owner of Soujuan Kimono, has exhibited art kimono internationally and will offer kimono, obi, and accessories for sale.  Joining him is Akiko Kageyama, certified kimono instructor, to give us instruction and tips on kimono dressing as well has help choose kimono, obi and accessories.  She will present a special lecture “Ohashiyori – how to finish clean”

Please join us: Sunday, September 29, and Monday, September 30, from 9am - 6 pm
Location: 828 SE Ash St., #204, Portland, OR 97214.

http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2008-06-15/news/36929993_1_edo-era-traditional-japanese-dress-japan-s-edo

https://buyathread.wordpress.com/2010/05/09/naoki-nomuras-kimono-exhibition-in-nyc-next-week/

http://www.nyartbeat.com/event/2011/A419

http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/2006.73.2

http://www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/jicc/pdf/kimonoopening08.pdf

Activities at Issoan

It has been a long time since I have blogged, but we have been busy at Issoan Tea School. 

Last month we had a haigata workshop, the forming of the ash for burning charcoal.  The whole class was able to use the ash spoons to smooth the ash and do part of the form.  Then we layed the charcoal, heated the water,  had our sweets and made tea. 

I'd like to take the opportunity to thank Mr. Tom Ward who made the charcoal that we burned.  He has come the closest I have seen to making domestic charcoal for tea ceremony. 

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

Haigata workshop

A reminder to all students: Haigata workshop is Sunday July 7th at 10 am.  Fee is $25.  Next week in fact. Please let me know by Friday July 5. We will be learning about the different kinds of furo and their formality; about the different kinds of ash, how to prepare the furo: leveling the kama, and the different kinds of haigata(ash forms) How to use the ash spoons to sculpt beautiful forms that still breathe and allow the fire to burn.

Bring what you have: furo, kama, mae gawara, (front tile), gotoku (stand), hai (ash), haisagi (ashspoons).

If we have time, we will go over charcoal, and how to arrange it in the furo to make sure it burns nice and hot, rather than go out.


Haigata workshop:

Sunday, July 7, 10 am - noon
Issoan Tea Room - outside, too.
Fee: $25
Reserve now only 3 spots left


You can register and pay for the class by Paypal at the left.
Or contact me (503) 645-7058  to register and pay at the time of the workshop

Paring back to the essential

Temae, the procedure for making tea, to our American eyes, may seem overly complicated and rigid with rules.   But these procedures have been refined for more than 400 years to be able to make a bowl of tea in the most efficient and beautiful way.

When we start to study temae, we start with the simplist form called ryakubon, or tray style and progress to more and more complicated procedures.   But as we study higher and higher temae, we are actually going back in time to procedures that were done at the beginning of the codefied tea ceremony.   What has happened over the years is that things have been pared away so that as we get closer to modern day, things get simpler.

Now that is not to say that procedures get easier.  Simpler does not mean easier.  In fact, simpler becomes harder because it exposes more and more of the person doing the procedure.  Just like Mark Twain said that he wrote you a long letter because he didn't have time to write you  a short one, doing a simple temae and making it look natual and beautiful takes a lot of training.

I did a chanoyu demonstration once for a post-graduate  course of theater majors on movement.  After the demonstration we had a discussion of the procedure and one student said that it didn't look all that hard to do.  But he failed to notice that I always entered the room with the right foot and exited with my left.  He also failed to notice that  when I folded my  fukusa all the folds and corners lined up, every single time.  He also failed to notice that everything was in its place, and not a centimeter off in a ten foot square space. "It looks so natural," he said, "and simple to do." 

Part of living in these times, is that we have very complicated lives.  It takes a conscious effort to pare back the things in our lives to essentials.  That means we have to take time to decide what is essential to us.  What is a want and what is a need?  Indeed, Rikyu said, “There is shelter enough if it keeps the rain off, and food enough when it staves off hunger. We draw water, gather firewood, boil the water and make tea.” 

I have a couple of students, and some friends in Seattle who do not own a car.  They have made the decision that a car is not essential to their lifestyle.  This eliminates car payments, insurance, gasoline, and maintenance.  

What can you eliminate from your complicated life?