The Japanese tea ceremony is often explained through words such as Zen, wabi-sabi, mindfulness, and ritual. Those ideas are part of its history, but they are not always the easiest way to understand what tea ceremony means in modern Japan. Most Japanese people do not practice tea ceremony in everyday life. We do not normally sit in a tatami tearoom, whisk matcha, or think about Zen philosophy when drinking tea. And yet, something about tea ceremony still feels familiar. When guests visit, we may use nicer cups, place them on small saucers, prepare sweets, or choose a drink that seems ...
