"Meanwhile, let us have a sip of tea. The afternoon glow is brightening the bamboos, the fountains are bubbling with delight, the soughing of the pines is heard in our kettle. Let us dream of evanescence, and linger in the beautiful foolishness of things."This is just one of many serene scenes painted for us by…
Finding Tea Nirvana in the Shadow of Mt Fuji – Day 2
My second day of exploring tea in Shizuoka Prefecture took me along a circuitous route away from the coast and into mountains thickly forested with evergreens. All along the way, I spotted small plots of tea bushes growing alongside family homes, as if they were an extension of the vegetable gardens. When spring arrives, these…
Okakura Kakuzo’s Hut Rises following Tsunami
For students of tea, art and spirituality, there was one small story that escaped international attention during the massive devastation that took place along Japan's northwest coastline on March 11, 2011. Okakura Kakuzo's tiny seaside retreat Rokkakudo was washed out to sea during the tsunami that scoured much of the Pacific coast of Ibaraki Prefecture. But, there…
Georgia O’Keeffe and The Book of Tea
Okakura Kakuzo made a lasting impression on a great American artist I've always been a fan of Georgia O'Keeffe. I don't mean just a fan of her art. I think she understood the greatness of small things - just as students of Okakura Kakuzo's Book of Tea came to understand this great truth. O'Keeffe may have learned this…