Chado, also known as chanoyu is often referred to as the Japanese tea ceremony in English. Cultural, contemplative and communal, this art form is based on hundreds of years of perfecting the bodily movements and mental disciplines involved in each tea gathering. 

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Chanoyu, which literally means “hot water for tea”, refers to the activities summarized by the following quote from the Urasenke school of tea:

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“...the Way of Tea concerns the creation of the proper setting for that moment of enjoyment of a perfect bowl of tea. Everything that goes into that serving of tea, even the quality of the air and the space where it is served, becomes a part of its flavor. The perfect tea must therefore capture the 'flavor' of the moment — the spirit of the season, of the occasion, of the time and the place. The event called chaji — that is, a full tea gathering — is where this takes place, and where the Way of Tea unfolds as an exquisite, singular moment in time shared by the participants.” - Urasenke Konnichian

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A fundamental phrase in chanoyu, is ichigo-ichie, “one time, one meeting." Ichigo-ichie is an awareness that moments are unrepeatable and there will never be another moment exactly like the one you are currently experiencing.

Therefore, each tea ceremony is a once in a lifetime event. The current Iemoto, Sen Soshitsu, says "Ichigo-ichie is simply a matter of taking in everything we encounter, touch, hear, see, and feel around us, moment to moment, without pretense.” This inspires participants to cherish and treasure each experience with the utmost sincerity. Chanoyu can be appreciated by anyone who joins us at the Japanese Friendship Garden with these principles in mind, even if it is their first time.