VOL.205 JULY 2025
EXPO 2025 OSAKA, KANSAI, JAPAN: THE CHARM OF KANSAI [Introducing Precious Traditional Japanese Culture to the World] Japanese Sense of Beauty and Spirit Embodied in the Tea Ceremony: The Essence of Sencha-do Reflected in Carefully Selected Movements and Utensils

When performing the tea ceremony, the fingers of both hands should always be aligned, and only when necessary should they be separated carefully.
Photo: SONODA Koki

SAWADA Ute, a tea ceremony master active in Kyoto Prefecture, is spreading Japanese tea culture, which manifests the spirit of harmony, to the world as a master of Sencha-do,¹ a type of sado.² We asked her about the Japanese sense of beauty and spirit embodied in tea ceremony etiquette.

While Sencha-do is a part of Japan’s tea culture that is still not widely known, it is no less infused with the delicate sensibilities of beauty and profound spirituality than the spirit of wabi-sabi,³ which is considered the essence of its counterpart Chanoyu (Matcha-do).⁴

For example, as the term o-temae (“tea preparation procedure”; lit. “in front of the hands”) indicates, the entire process of making tea is performed within immediate reach of one’s hands. Throughout the performance, the practitioner pays close attention to the use of their hands and fingers. The eyes of the guests also naturally focus on the fingertips, where a great energy, or ki,⁵ gathers. But if the fingers are spread carelessly, that ki will scatter and may cause discomfort among the participants. For this reason, the fingers of both hands are always kept together, with deliberate care given to each movement. These subtle considerations reveal that o-temae is not merely for visual appreciation, but reflects a sincere attitude of earnestly engaging with the guests.

Ideally, these important gestures should be carried out smoothly and without interruption during o-temae. Some tea utensils are heavy, such as the water-filled suichu,⁶ while others are light, such as the haboki,⁷ which can be blown away by even a gentle breeze. However, if each utensil is handled in accordance with its actual weight, it may quickly appear too heavy or too light, disrupting the overall harmony. Therefore, heavier utensils are consciously moved more lightly, and lighter ones more slowly. These motions, performed at a steady and unified pace, create a single flow, filling the observer’s mind with a deep sense of peacefulness.

Furthermore, when handling tea utensils, we always follow a three-step process: first, to “take with the eyes,” then to “take with the chest,” and finally to “take with the hands.” Rather than directly reaching out with the hands, we begin by directing our gaze to the utensil, lean in closer with the upper body, and only then start to move our hands. By following this order, any anxiety about dropping a tea utensil is eased, and guests can naturally anticipate our next movements, allowing them to appreciate the tea ceremony with peace of mind. I have also come to value this process in my everyday life. Just by turning my eyes and body toward an object before reaching for it, I feel that my daily behavior has become much more mindful and refined.

Sencha-do etiquette contains many other considerations that embody the sense of beauty and spirit of the Japanese people, a thoughtfulness that appears even in the tea utensils themselves.

In the Sencha-do Obakubaisa-ryu⁸ school to which I belong, a special tea bowl called the Heisei Jawan is used in some of the tea ceremonies. It was designed by the previous Iemoto (head of the school) in 1989 (first year of the Heisei Era in Japan) and has an elegant inverted conical shape, with its angle meticulously calculated and designed so that the tea inside can be drunk without raising one’s chin up high. In addition to its sophisticated form, it also beautifully enhances the act of tea drinking itself, and allows even a person unable to move their chin to savor the tea without difficulty. This tea bowl, which anyone can use to enjoy tea in a natural and beautiful manner, symbolizes the very spirit of Sencha-do, which is “to gather over tea and communicate heart-to-heart with others.”

In this way, the tea ceremony is more than a mere set of formal gestures. It is an important means of centering the mind, connecting with others, and mutually exchanging thoughts. I hope to continue conveying its charm going forward.

SAWADA Ute
Born in Germany. She studied in Japan during her university years and moved to Kyoto Prefecture after graduating. The following year, she joined the Sencha-do Obakubaisa-ryu school, and in 2024, she became the first Westerner to receive full certification as a tea master. Today, she runs the guest house Machiya Hotel YANAGI, while also performing tea ceremonies at shrines, temples, public facilities, and international events to promote tea culture in Japan and overseas.

• 1. Sencha-do is a type of tea ceremony where the flavor of sencha, gyokuro and other types of green tea are enjoyed. Sencha and gyokuro differ from matcha in that whole tea leaves are used instead of powdered tea leaves.
• 2. The practice of brewing tea according to certain conventions.
• 3. A Japanese sense of beauty that perceives depth and richness in modest and simple things, such as seen in the tea ceremony.
• 4. Chanoyu (Matcha-do) is a tea ceremony in which powdered tea is enjoyed.
• 5. Ki, also known as qi in Chinese, is an active flow of energy thought to be part of any living thing.
• 6. A tea utensil: a container for water
• 7. A tea utensil: a miniature broom made of bird’s feathers
• 8. A school of tea ceremony developed from the customs of the tea drinking ritual at Obaku-san Manpuku-ji Temple in Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture.

By SAWADA Ute
Photo: SONODA Koki; SAWADA Ute; SAITO Bungo