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I performed tea ceremony demonstrations in Toronto during the one year anniversary of the Tohoku Japan earthquake, at Rafi’s fundraiser exhibition on March 8th,

also at the CJS movie night on March 16th at National Film Board. You might think the Japanese Tea Ceremony is just a matter of drink matcha. Or just a choreographic ritual of preparing and serving Japanese green tea. But the whole ceremony is considered a piece of art.

In the ceremony at the CJS movie night, we used a big theater-screen to project a slideshow instead calligraphy or paintings. Those pictures taken at cities which were affected by earthquake and Tsunami photographed by a Japanese artist Arito Suzuki.

And floor mats we used were hand-knitted blankets by various artists both in Canada and Japan conducted by Kyoko Nitta who organize a charity knitting group called Think of Japan While Knitting, to raise money for Japan’s earthquake relief efforts.

I was really proud and happy to added these two elements into tea ceremony because we were trying to express our sincerest sympathy to all the victims of the tragic events a year ago, and support the continuing rehabilitation of their lives and communities during the ceremony. We haven’t forgotten you, Tohoku.
Thank you Rafi and Jeff for all your contributions and continued support. Special thanks to Kyoko Nitta for your assistance at the tea ceremony.