Japanese tea, regarding the tea ceremony, begins with Kairo, the lighting of the sunken hearth,
Kuchikiri, breaking the seal of a jar of new tea,
then Yobanashi, held around the winter solstice.
Hatsugama, the first tea ceremony of the New Year
Dairo, with a large hearth to feel warmth during the coldest months
Tsurigama and Sukigigama, with the coming of spring
And, with thoughts of summer, Shoburo and Asa-chaji- morning tea ceremony
Nakaoki and Nagori no Cha in the autumn, with feelings of nostalgia for the warmer months …
Always, throughout the year, I live with a sense of Ichiza-konryu
- the unification of space and time- in my heart.

The tea ceremony, or Cha-no-yu, has wabi- mellow, alluring qualities within its quiet simplicity.
Grass sprouting from the snow in mountain villages show the “radiance of life”
Small, round camellia buds conceal the “strength of life”
In such instances, one is able to witness the “the source of beauty”.
And back to the teachings of Rikyuu…
“Where there is nothing there is everything.”
Wabi is the enduring heart within the tea master.
Of great importance in life is to welcome the morning afresh each day…

The tea bowl to aspire towards
Is that which has a resolute dignity before being placed into one’s hands
Yet light and soft when held, as if it could melt into one’s admiring thoughts.

I believe beauty has an absolute law.
Radiating the grace-filled light of life…
Tools, too, contain the joy of being adored.
Life is fleeting, therefore beautiful…

The tea bowls I aim for
Ooido “Kizaemon”, Aoido “Shibata”, “Kasugano”
With a sense of freedom I create
“Kuro-oribe”, “Oribe-guro”, “Seto-guro” and Hagi tea bowls.

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