The placement of tatami in the tea ceremony determined the position of the tokonoma (alcove), nijiriguchi (doorway), and chadoguchi (entrance to the tea ceremony), and even the placement of the furnace.

Tatami mats were given names according to their roles.

For example, the tatami on which the master performs the tea ceremony is called “tegozen tatami,” the tatami on which the guests sit is called “kyakudo tatami,” and the tatami on which the furnace is cut is called “roro tatami. These names served to clarify their position and function in the tea room and facilitate the progress of the tea ceremony.
The practice of not stepping on the edges of tatami was also established during this period. This had both practical (protection of the edges) and cultural (respect for the family crest) reasons, but the tea ceremony further developed this practice and gave it meaning as a boundary line to distinguish the fields of the host and the guests.

Thus, the importance of tatami mats and their edges has been established over a long period of time through a combination of the development of Japanese residential culture and the refinement of the tea ceremony. It became not just a physical element, but a cultural element that symbolized the Japanese sense of beauty and the way people relate to each other.

Studying the tea ceremony cultivates an eye for finding special meaning and beauty in the ordinary, everyday things that we usually pass by without thinking about them.

For example, by becoming aware of the edges of tatami mats, one realizes that tatami mats, which one had thought of as mere flooring material, are an important communication tool that connects the host and the guests. In this way, the process of discovering unusual elements hidden in the everyday is like a treasure hunt.

The tea ceremony is more than just a hobby or an education; it is a treasure trove of practical wisdom that enriches our lives.

Among the many works such as “Kiki’s Delivery Service,” “Princess Mononoke,” and “Castle in the Sky,” I would like to specifically highlight those containing elements of Zen.

Deliberately creating scenes of “silence”

In “Kiki’s Delivery Service,” the scene where Kiki helps Tombo. In “Princess Mononoke,” the scene where plants grow from the ground with each step of the Deer God. In “Castle in the Sky,” the scene where Pazu and Sheeta arrive at Laputa.

These scenes are silent. When something that previously had sound becomes silent, people focus. You think, “Huh?” right? This effect is well utilized.

In tea ceremony, too, there is little conversation to promote concentration.

Works set in nature

There are many Ghibli works set in nature, such as “Princess Mononoke,” “Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind,” “Castle in the Sky,” and “Pom Poko.”

Tea ceremony and Zen have ideas that cherish nature. For example, tea rooms and tea gardens are designed with nature in mind.

Scenes of self-reflection

Ghibli works feature scenes where characters engage in dialogue with themselves. For instance, in “Kiki’s Delivery Service,” the protagonist Kiki suddenly can’t hear Jiji’s voice and can’t fly on her broom anymore.

Other works like “Howl’s Moving Castle,” “Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind,” “Spirited Away,” and “Princess Mononoke” also depict characters’ inner conflicts and dialogues with others.

Tea ceremony and Zen also value self-dialogue.

Zen elements in “anime,” a representative Japanese culture

Japanese tea ceremony and Ghibli works have these commonalities. For example, tea ceremony values harmony with nature, such as seasonal flowers and trees, and Ghibli works also have scenes beautifully depicting the changing of seasons.

Moreover, while tea ceremony emphasizes paying attention to the movements of the heart, Ghibli characters are created with meticulous attention to their emotional shifts.

Why not take this opportunity to revisit Ghibli works?

I like them because I can learn about many different world views.

When I was a child, I learned more about various languages from manga and anime than from textbooks.

And there are many Japanese manga works that incorporate religious elements such as Shintoism and Buddhism.

In this issue, I would like to introduce 10 of them.

1: Buddha (Osamu Tezuka)

This work depicts the life of Buddha (Gautama Siddhartha) and is ideal for understanding the Buddhist worldview. It is a masterpiece by Osamu Tezuka with creative writing.

2: A-Un (Mari Okazaki)

This work realistically depicts the story of Kukai, founder of the Shingon sect of Buddhism, and Saicho, founder of the Tendai sect. This powerful manga depicts people seeking religion in a difficult time and makes us think about the reason for the existence of Buddhism.

3：Please Don’t Recite the Nembutsu in the Hospital Room (Koyasu Tamayo)

This work depicts Teruen Matsumoto, a doctor and monk working at an emergency hospital. It makes you think about how Buddhist teachings can help people today

4：Monk DAYS (Du Kang Jun)

A comic essay by the author, whose parents live in a Rinzai Zen temple, about his days as an ascetic monk. It provides easy-to-understand explanations of temple life, funeral etiquette, etc.

5：Saint Oniisan (Hikaru Nakamura)

A bizarre story of Buddha and Jesus Christ living together in modern Japan. The religious situation is depicted in a light-hearted manner.

6: Hokusai Manga (Katsushika Hokusai)

The works of ukiyoe artist Katsushika Hokusai depict traditional Japanese religion and scenery.

7: Blade of Oni-no-Elimination (Goge Yoseharu)

This work is based on the theme of exterminating demons, and Buddhist elements appear throughout. You can explore the meaning of the characters’ beliefs and battles.

8：Hana no Keiji (Tetsuo Hara)

This work depicts the life of Date Masamune, a military commander in the Warring States period. Buddhist teachings and beliefs are incorporated into the story.

9：Vinland Saga (Makoto Yukimura)

Set in the Viking Age, this work makes us think deeply about life, death, and faith.

10：Jutsu Kaisen (Akutami Gedeshi)

Japanese history, mythology, and Buddhism are the themes of the work, and many of these elements are incorporated into the setting of the work.

At the heart of this work is the philosophy of “Budo” (martial arts). This “zero way” is similar to the Japanese tea ceremony and Zen.

Dragon Ball and Martial Arts

First, Sun Wukong trained and honed his skills from the Turtle Hermit. This dedicated master-disciple relationship is the very essence of the master-disciple bond in martial arts.

Furthermore, Goku gradually becomes stronger as he engages in heated battles with powerful enemies. This spirit of “training and training oneself over and over again” overlaps with the basic philosophy of budo.

In addition, Goku learns the bonds to his friends and the spirit of justice through the battles for his life. Kame-Sen’nin explains, “Winning is not the only aspect of budo. Martial arts go beyond winning and losing; they are about cultivating the mind.

In this way, the basic spirit of budo, namely “the bond between master and disciple,” “training and growth,” and “cultivation of the mind that transcends victory and defeat,” is strongly projected in Dragon Ball. In this story of adventure and battle, Japanese traditions are alive and well.

Commonalities between Martial Arts and Tea Ceremony

The ancient traditional Japanese culture of budo and the tea ceremony have one thing in common: Zen, which is at the root of both.
First, in both, it is important to “put one’s heart and soul into what one does. In the martial arts, training the mind and concentration create a powerful stroke. In the tea ceremony, too, beauty is created by putting one’s whole heart and soul into one’s manners.
Another commonality is the “respect for propriety. In the martial arts, it is essential to respect others and observe etiquette. In the tea ceremony, too, consideration for one’s guests is required even before going up to the tea room.
In addition, there is the spirit of “ichigo-ichie” (a meeting once in a lifetime). In martial arts, it is essential to give one’s best in the moment. In the tea ceremony, too, it is a once-in-a-lifetime tea ceremony that can only be held at that particular moment.
Thus, martial arts and tea ceremony share the same philosophy of “training the mind, respecting decorum, and cherishing each and every encounter.

These spiritualities, acquired through rigorous training, may be the pride of Japanese culture.

Difference between Martial Arts and Tea Ceremony

On the other hand, there are differences between martial arts and the tea ceremony.

In martial arts, the goal is to hone one’s skills and overcome adversity. The tea ceremony, on the other hand, is about improving oneself in a quiet environment by being friendly with one’s guests.

In the martial arts, one cultivates energy and perseverance, while in the tea ceremony, one finds peace of mind. Although they are both activities to master the “Way,” they are opposite in their manifestations.

Because we value what we cannot see, we empathize with them.

The “invisible” is alive and well in both the martial arts and the tea ceremony, and this is why they have attracted sympathy from all over the world.

Those who see the tea ceremony for the first time may find it difficult to understand.
The complex etiquette, the mysterious artifacts, and the profound taste that is achieved in silence. At first glance, the tea ceremony may seem irrational and difficult to understand.

The tea ceremony emphasizes a worldview of “wabi and austerity. The tea ceremony is about finding “beauty in simplicity,” without the use of extravagant decorations. In other words, the invisible is respected.

The tea masters also find great meaning in nature, such as flowers and shadows. A single flower represents the seasons, and a ray of sunlight symbolizes the passage of time.

It is the mindset of the tea master to see the essence of life in the smallest details of nature. This “natural truth” can never be captured only by outward appearances.

What is most important is the “heart-to-heart contact” between the tea master and his guests. It is not through words, but through the sharing of manners through tea and the atmosphere that fills the space, that people can understand each other.

The tea ceremony cannot be described only in terms of what can be seen. This is because the tea ceremony values things that cannot be seen. Beauty in simplicity, the providence of nature, and the exchange of hearts. I believe that these things strongly appeal to people’s hearts.

There are many other theories and histories, but the one thing that all cultures have in common is to pray that the people present can live happy and prosperous lives and that bad things will not happen to them.

This is also common to Japanese culture.

To begin with, there is the fact that the Japanese tea ceremony has been handed down to this day because of the introduction of Western culture.

For example, “taterei” (ryurei) is performed with a chair and table, and it is said that this is because it was actually developed to invite Westerners in at the time of civilization’s opening to the West.

It is something that is commonplace today, but would not be if Western culture had not entered the country.

It is no exaggeration to say that it is precisely because Japan has this blend of Japanese and Western culture that it has created its own unique culture.

Besides, some data show that there are now fewer houses with tatami mats than before.

The reason for this is that I believe that people who have grown up in Japanese culture and those who have not have a different way of feeling and perceiving things.

In many cases, when I tell about the Japanese tea ceremony to Japanese people, I get a lot of “re-feelings” and “empathy.

However, when communicating about the Japanese tea ceremony to non-Japanese, there is more “new discovery” and “freshness.

Therefore, we change the way we communicate things such as specific examples and word choice to make it easier to convey.

Of course, sometimes non-Japanese people “sympathize” with us, but I think that is mostly because of the religious nature of our nature as human beings.

For example, the tea ceremony is a culture that uses the content of tea to express Zen spirituality. In this context, “mutual respect” is important.

This festival was established on September 9 and is said to have originated in China.

Also known as “Chrysanthemum Festival,” it is celebrated with chestnut rice and chrysanthemum wine to ward off evil spirits and celebrate longevity.

Although it is not a widespread culture in Japan, it is a part of the same festivals as “Momo no Sekku” Hinamatsuri on March 3 and “Tango-no Sekku” Children’s Day on May 5.

１：Why is September 9 called “Chou-you-no-Sekku”?

First of all, there are the “Five Seasonal Festivals” in ancient China.

These are January 1, March 3, May 5, July 7, and September 9. (Incidentally, November 11 does not count as a Seasonal Festival.)

In fact, the Chinese treated even numbers as yin numbers and odd numbers as yang numbers for good luck. Among them, 9 is the largest yang number, so it was designated as “Chou-you-no-Sekku.

However, on the other hand, it is also said that the overlapping yang numbers can easily cause disasters, so in order to balance them out, festive banquets were held to drive away evil spirits and wish for long life.

The interesting point here is that we have a sense of balance that too much multiplication of good things is not good.

And it seems that this Chinese “Five Seasonal Festivals” were introduced to Japan around the beginning of the Heian period (794-1185), firstly among the aristocracy and then spreading to other countries.

September 9 in the lunar calendar corresponds to about one month later in the modern calendar, so it is around the time when autumn flowers such as chrysanthemums bloom so that we can feel the atmosphere of autumn in the environment.

Since chrysanthemums were once believed to have the power to ward off evil spirits, people celebrated Chou-you-no-Sekku by enjoying drinks made from chrysanthemums to ward off evil spirits and wish for longevity.

２：Tea ceremony also has a tea party related to “Chou-you-no-Sekku” (Chou-you-no-Sekku)

So, do we have tea ceremonies related to “Chou-you-no-Sekku” in the tea ceremony? The answer is yes.

Wagashi (Japanese sweets) with chrysanthemum or chestnut designs are prepared, and kimonos decorated with chrysanthemum flowers are worn.

Tea utensils decorated with the image of chestnuts are also prepared.

In this way, the tea ceremony values each and every aspect of Japanese culture, and tea ceremonies are held in connection with these elements.

In this way, we can realize how much we are blessed and kept alive by the ever-changing nature.

Here are some points to keep in mind. With this in mind, both men and women can enjoy matcha in their best condition without any problems.

The number one priority is “to enjoy matcha with peace of mind.”

The easiest way to understand the concept is to enjoy matcha in peace.

That is why both the etiquette and the concept of the tea ceremony are founded on this.

That is why this is the way it is.

Sweets are served first to enhance the taste of matcha to the fullest and are then consumed.
The etiquette is based on the procedure to serve the best tasting matcha to the customers.
The tea room and the water closet should be kept clean so that the guests can enjoy matcha in peace.

The tea ceremony is a ceremony in which the guest and the host are one and the same. This means that the guests also need to cooperate in order to participate in tea ceremonies and tea ceremony practice, and that this is what makes it possible.

First, the following is a simple place to start.

-Nails should be cut short and nothing should be attached to them.
The reason for this is to prevent damage to the tools and nail polish.

Hair should be styled in such a way that hair does not stick to the tools.
The reason for this is so that when passing plates and other utensils to other people, if hair gets on the utensils, it will not look clean.
The image of a traditional kimono style hairdo.

Makeup should not be too flashy, and lipstick should not be left on the bowl.
The reason for this is that the tea ceremony is a culture of wabi-sabi, and matcha is the main ingredient, so it is important to be aware of the role it plays as a complement.

Do not wear perfume.
The reason is that you will not be able to enjoy the aroma of matcha and the fragrance of the incense.

Do not wear jewelry or watches on your hands.
The reason is that they may damage the tea utensils.

In summary, there is no need to overdress in order to enjoy the atmosphere of matcha and the tea ceremony.

Being fashionable is fun, but the most fashionable thing is to fit the TPO.

Such a nodate is actually a little different from the tea utensils used inside a tea room.

This is because inside a tea room there is a mizuya, and once tea is served, it can be put away in a procedural manner, but outside it is different.

After tea is served outside, the tea utensils need to be brought back to the tea room safely.

One of the things that have been developed for this purpose is the chasen, a tea whisk for nodate.

The size of the Chasen for Nodate is slightly different from the one used in the tea ceremony room.

One of the characteristics is that it is a little smaller and wider. The reason for this is to make the size as compact as possible for easy carrying.

As a slightly clearer example, here is a mini-sized, field-use tea whisk.