On October 3, 2025, Urasenke Tankokai Los Angeles Association participated in a class for University of Southern California students. Eighteen East Asian Languages and Cultures students were offered a tea experience at the Seifuan Teahouse at the Huntington Library.

Students were exposed to an authentic teahouse and were able to observe and participate in sharing a bowl of tea. Sochi Ohshima was the teishu and Somi Gill was the hanto. Soyo Nakamori was in the mizuya while Soshin Abe guided the students through the tea experience and explained the spirit of Chado.

The kakejiku or scroll that hung in the tearoom was “Wa Kei Sei Jaku”, Harmony, Respect, Purity, Tranquility by Monk Itsugai from Myoshinji Temple which was explained as the essence of the tea experience. The vase was a woven basket, Nata, with flowers of pampas grass and cosmos from the Huntington Gardens. The kettle was a Mozuya kama. A Seto Hitoeguchi, water vessel was used. The tea container or natsume, was of a chrysanthemum design to welcome the coming of fall. The tea scoop or chashaku, was by Monk Daishin at Sangenin and was given the poetic name of Kajitsu or Good Day. The tea bowl was Aka raku. The sweets were from Japan with the Icho or gingko leaf imprint, an emblem of the school of Urasenke, on a funoyaki, sweet cracker.

President Robert Hori, Toshie and Frank Mosher, Associate Director of Botanical Cultural Programs at the Huntington Library, gave the students a tour of the Japanese gardens.

The students enjoyed the experience and left with a sense of calmness and sense of peace.