January 12

Yang Hatsugama & Celebration of 100 year anniversary of Czech-Japanese diplomatic relations
České budějovice, Czech Republic

Petr held hatsugama to celebrate the solar (yang) new year and 100 years of Czech-Japanese diplomatic relations, which began on January 12 1920.

February 2

Yin Hatsugama
České budějovice, Czech Republic

Petr held hatsugama to celebrate the lunar - yin new year with his colleagues. It was the last hatsugama chaji to close a circle of new year tea events themed with yin & yang.

March 1

'Grounded’ tea-gathering

Ashburton (Melbourne), Australia
 

The 5 guests all had trips to Japan booked and had to cancel their flights. To turn the situation into something positive, they were invited to an informal tea gathering held by George.

Usu-cha was served as an introduction to the Ueda Sōko style.

The tea gathering was held in an artist's painting studio. The make-shift tearoom was created by hanging up curtains, core-flute panels and bamboo blinds, also using chairs and fold-up tables. 

We used a portable electric hot-plate to heat the water. The matcha was from Nippon cha: 

Toki ha no mukashi, (Pine of the summit). Mochi sweets with anko filling. 

Incense (cedarwood) came from Daitokuji, Kyoto.