Japan House's annual Spring Open House resumes on Saturday, April 20th featuring Bruce Sosei Hamana, professor of chado, and the Chado Urasenke Tankokai Urbana-Champaign Association.
Traditional Japanese tea ceremonies will be offered by the Chado Urasenke Tankokai Urbana-Champaign Association at 11am, 12pm, and 1pm. In addition to a bowl of freshly whisked matcha, a special Japanese sweet called wagashi will be served, made from recipes in The Art of Wagashi written by Professor Emeritus Kimiko Gunji.
Guests may select from the outdoor ryurei (table-style) tea ceremony (seated on chairs) or the indoor tea ceremony on tatami (seated cross-legged on tatami). Please dress appropriately as legs are covered traditionally in Japan. All guests will be asked to remove shoes when entering Japan House, and to wear socks if participating in a tea ceremony. Tickets per person ($16.00) are required to attend a tea ceremony; no walk-ins will be permitted to ensure a tranquil experience for guests. The tea ceremony will take approximately an hour.
From 11am-2pm, students of ARTJ 199: Ikebana, will have miniature ikebana pieces on display inside the building along the educational display wall for viewing. Guests may quietly pass through to observe this exhibition.
At 2pm, there is a free demonstration about ooyosechakai with Bruce Hamana, Omar Francis, and students from the Chado Urasenke Tankokai Urbana-Champaign Association. Ooyosechakai is a formal tea gathering in which guests follow certain procedures as part of the etiquette of asking about the tea equipment selected for the tea gathering. This is a unique opportunity to view guest procedures in a formal setting. Following the demonstration is a lecture on Beautiful Words in the Way of Tea: Chakaiki and Toriawase, which is about tea gathering records and the selection procedure of equipment for use in tea ceremonies. The presentation is free, but donations are welcomed. Space is limited to the first 30 guests.
Outside garden tours are offered by gardener Susan Kapacinskas at 12pm and 1pm, and will take 45 minutes. Tickets are required to join ($5.00/person) - please dress appropriately to walk outside and note that there is an uneven stone path in the tea garden.
This year, the Spring Open House demonstration is co-sponsored by the Andrew W. Mellon Fellowship for Diversity, Inclusion & Cultural Heritage and organized by Diana Liao, RBS-Mellon Cultural Heritage Fellow and Japan House's Education and Engagement Specialist.
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About Bruce Hamana
Bruce Sosei Hamana is a student and teacher of the Urasenke Tradition of Chanoyu. He worked for nearly thirty years in the International Affairs Department of Tankokai, Inc., the membership organization of Urasenke, where he helped to coordinate the overseas activities of the organization which includes over 100 affiliates all over the world. He was also the director of the Midorikai program from 2003 until 2015. Midorikai is the the foreign students division of the Urasenke Gakuen Professional College of the Way of Tea, which was established to train students to teach chanoyu in their home countries.
In 2020, he wrote the book 100 Beautiful Words in the Way of Tea and is currently collaborating on a book about the 72 micro-seasons and contributing a chapter on seasonality in chanoyu in a Japanese aesthetics textbook. He has a chanoyu practice for foreign and Japanese students and teaches chanoyu at the secondary and college level.
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FAQs
What are my transport/parking options getting to the event?
Japan House is located in the Arboretum at the University of Illinois at 2000 S. Lincoln Avenue between Kirby/Florida and Windsor Road. Parking is available in the lot to the north of Japan House (F-31 at St. Mary's Road and Lincoln) and to the south of Japan House (F-32 on Lincoln across from the Vet Med complex). Spaces are marked with a placard and must be paid with Mobile Meter (https://mobilemeter.us/) or Park Mobile (https://parkmobile.io/ ) phone apps, or by calling 217-207-3033. After 5pm and weekends all parking spaces are free.
There are bike racks near both parking lots. The MTD Silver comes near Japan House on Lincoln Ave but buses also service PAR/FAR and you may walk from there to Japan House.
The front door is located on the north side of the building. Please allow plenty of time to arrive and get to the front door so we may start on time.
Questions about accommodations or accessibility?
Please email japanhouse@illinois.edu if you have any questions.
Is my registration/ticket transferrable?
Yes, ticket transfers are possible with a minimum of 48 hours advance notice and if there is space in the new time requested. Please contact japanhouse@illinois.edu if you have any questions.
Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?
You do not have to bring your ticket. We will just need your name to check in.
The name on the registration/ticket doesn't match the attendee. Is that okay?
The purchaser of the ticket can go to "My Tickets" and change the name to whomever will be attending.
What is the refund policy?
You registration is refundable if you contact us at japanhouse@illinois.edu at least 48 hours before the date of your reservation.
Are there ID requirements or an age limit to enter the event?
The tea ceremonies, garden tours, and presentation are for all ages. Children are welcome as long as they are able to sit quietly throughout the tea ceremony. Admission is required for all regardless of whether they partake in the tea and sweet. For the garden tour, children are welcome as long as they are able to behave appropriately and follow garden etiquette. We kindly ask that strollers are not brought into the tea garden to avoid damaging plants along the path. For the presentation, children are welcome as long as they are able to sit quietly throughout the presentation.
What is Tomonokai? How can I support Japan House?
Tomonokai are "Friends of Japan House". The Tomonokai program was established in 1998 with a goal of supporting Japan House programming and events and promoting an understanding of Japanese Arts and Culture. This tax deductible membership entitles you to special member benefits including discounts on events and merchandise, and vouchers for private tea ceremonies.
Japan House is non-profit and fully relies upon the generosity and kindness of supporters to continue to provide our campus and community vibrant programming that is immersive, engaging, and most importantly, that celebrates diversity! Consider becoming Tomonokai, or Friend of Japan House, or support by clicking here.
