Yesterday I had the chance to participate in not one but two events, both of which were new to me, which are part of the local culture. On Monday morning's students from Junior High School have Zen lesson with a specialist Zen Teacher, who encourages students to understand Zen concepts. Everyone changes into gym clothing so that they can move easily and takes with them a sitting cushion. This time students were using pictorial cards to identify key concepts and ideas of Zen.
In the afternoon I was invited to see a one of my High School students perform the Tea Ceremony at the Tea Ceremony club. The school has a special area for the tea ceremony. The paper/wood screens and tatami mats give the area a degree of tranquillity separating from the busy hustle of the school. I had tea made for me, using the correct techniques, under the supervision of the group leader Ms Yokota. Tea is ground and mixed with boiling water in a carefully prescribed fashion. Both boys and girls are keen members of this group and I was served my tea with a rice cake and plenty of instruction as to how I should consume my tea properly. It was quite delicious, the sweet of the cake mixing with the bitterness of the tea to give a balanced effect.
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昨日は学校で行われた二つの行事に参加しました。それらは日本文化に触れることができる私にとって初めての体験でした。一つは中学生を対象に行われている「禅」の授業です。月曜日に生徒たちは動きやすい体操服に着替え座禅を組み、先生からお話を聞いて禅について学びます。今回は禅語かるたを使って禅の思想や概念を学びました。
午後には、茶道部に所属する高校生からお茶会に招待されました。学校には茶室が設けてあり、一歩足を踏み入れると、そこには畳や障子があり、日々忙しく賑やかな学校と打って変わった静寂な空間が出迎えてくれます。茶道部には男子生徒も女子生徒もいます。生徒たちは顧問の横田先生の指導のもと正しい作法でお茶を立ててくれました。私は餅菓子を頂きながらお茶の飲み方を教えてもらいました。茶菓子はお茶の苦味と絶妙なバランスでとても美味しく頂きました。