A Soothing Cup of Tea

Dear Family and Friends,

Despite the upcoming holidays, the world is bleeding deeply and tragically. A profound sense of foreboding is seeping in everywhere. It would be easy to succumb to the uncertainty of these times, even as they bring values into acute focus.

 
I could be overwhelmed. But one reassuring thought has emerged in these past tumultuous weeks. “You are not in this alone. Small groups can birth a flexible strength to keep freedom of thought and expression alive. Don’t give up. The work is just beginning.”
 
I try to relax.

And then a friend calls and wants to introduce me to one of the oldest teashops in Sendai. “It will sooth your soul,” she says. “You must come. It will do you good.” 
And I go.

Kon-Sei-En Tea Shop (今清園) is indeed harmonious and soothing. It has tatami floors, huge earthen pots, and well loved wooden tea boxes. “We don’t use these anymore,” the owner explains. “Tea is well packaged now, so these boxes are no longer necessary. But they are beautiful, aren’t they? They are like old friends, so we keep them.”

Yayoe Konno, the owner, goes on to say, “Several hundred years ago it was quite an ordeal to get tea up here all the way from Kyoto. It was brought in these gorgeous earthen pots, partly by boat, partly by horse cart. That is why they are so sturdy and strong. Of course, they are no longer used for transporting tea, but they hold a deep and rich history, so they, too, are part of our little family here.”
 
Yayoe Konno and her sister-in-law, Noriko Konno, were both born in Shizuoka, the tea growing area of Japan. They came to Sendai as young brides and now are the only ones left honoring the shop’s old ways. 
“When we were younger, we did many things. But even now we roast some of the tea ourselves, right out in the back garden of this shop. It is dark and delicious Hojicha. Of course, we have many kinds of green tea, too. Please sit down and have a cup.” 
Then out comes a delicate presentation of sweets and the gracious, perfectly orchestrated making of tea.

It is indeed a ceremony. Or maybe better a ritual. An ancient and sacred one. I savor the vivid green bitterness, and my soul is indeed soothed. Tea’s continuity through war and peace, through poverty and riches, through hard times and prosperity holds a profound reassurance. We are making dangerously ignorant choices at the moment. But as we “little people’ join together and work relentlessly for freedom of thought and expression, there is surely hope for a better tomorrow.

Love,
Anne

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