A New Year tea party was held on the 7th of January again as we have one every year This year we were thankful for the fine weather. A New Year tea party has served as the meeting ground so that many pupils can get together with an other aficionados of peoples. At the beginning of the party tea master of Kourakudou (headquarters), Mrs. Hosoda made a new years’ greeting to the students who were present. She had this to say, “Last year a new classroom of the headmaster was open at Nigata. We could strengthen the bonds of our relationships. The son of the headmaster performed the ritual for his father at the tea dedication ceremony at the temple while the headmaster was abroad. This experience reassured us and warmed our hearts.” The headmaster expressed his greetings after her; One after another we experienced natural disasters which made us think again about the threat of nature and our stance to nature. I could guess that pupils from Nigata prefecture must have many troubles after the big earthquakes last year. Fortunately, most of the pupils could overcome the disaster without much damage. I sincerely hope that the newly opened class there creates a strong and concrete foundation for cooperation among pupils in the future. As you can see my three sons are present here in order to assist me at the tea party this year. I should add that they are still young and have been in training. I hope they will steadily progress with all of you. He then awarded licenses to pupils who belong to the headquarters and come from all classrooms. These licenses should be recognized as the successful outcomes of each student’s continuous efforts.
At about 11 o’clock, .the main part of the day’s tea party started. The headmaster made tea for all those present. He made about 25 cups of tea at one time. All guests had waited their turn. The aroma of Kosetu tea permeated in the tea room. HOURAI, an auspicious ornament and bunches of flowers such as a kind of plum and camellia were arranged in a freshly cut green bamboo tube and displayed at the alcove. On the first floor at the room of China, the Kyocha tea party was held at the same time. The participants enjoyed the traditional game and competed with each other. They tried to tell the name of 5 different kinds of tea just after they savored each cup. This year several participants managed to tell the right name of all teas which made the atmosphere more auspicious than ever. In the other part of the building traditional Kyoto cousin by Kikunoi, a traditional Japanese restaurant welcomed the guests. Mrs. Ogawa served sake and exchanged greetings with guests. All those present had a very pleasurable time.
The next day more guests from various places participated in the tea party. There was a friendly and ambient atmosphere. In the evening a dinner party was held at the Briton Hotel. More than 100 guests enjoyed exchanging the greeting of New Year and had a wonderful time together. Pro. Haga Tohru, a college head of Kyoto of art and craft Unv. made a speech. Pro.Sugimoto proposed a toast. Players of Chinese musical instruments played live music at the beginning of the party through the good offices of friends of the headmaster. The unique created by the instruments harmony made guests remember the eternal scenery of the Silk Road route. All guests spent vivid time drawing a lottery, savoring sake and so on. Around 9 ’clock we had to bring it to an end.