How to Attend a Japanese Tea Ceremony

A Japanese tea ceremony can be found virtually anywhere around the world, usually in conjunction with a Japanese meal. These ceremonies are also known as Chaji. You typically will have four people at a table for a Japanese tea ceremony.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Host your own Japanese tea ceremony. You can easily put together your own if you invite about 8 to 10 guests. If you would like to invite more people, schedule different Japanese tea ceremonies throughout the day, as the practice is best suited to small groups.
2. Look for advertisements in your newspaper or ethnic local magazines for Japanese tea ceremonies. In large metropolitan areas, Japanese tea ceremonies happen all the time.
3. Sit around a low table during the ceremony itself. You can also sit around a tablecloth laid out on the floor if a low table isn't available. It is important to relax during these Japanese tea ceremonies, as that is the main point.
4. Enjoy the Japanese tea ceremony decorations. Typical tea ceremony decorations include paper lanterns, Japanese arts and crafts, and fish-shaped streamers.
5. Eat small cakes, known as jewel cakes. You typically won't eat much at a Japanese ceremony unless it is configured around a full-fledged meal.
6. Talk about the Japanese decorations and the flowers that usually decorate the ceremony. It is proper etiquette to appreciate the surroundings.

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