On a warm and sunny day, a tea gathering was held for the Asian American staff working at Huntington Library.  Twelve employees gathered in the main room of the Shoya House to observe and experience a tea ceremony.  For many, it was a first time experience.

Dougu gathered was from the Robert Hori collection and centered around a New Year’s, new beginning theme.  In the alcove hung a beautiful scroll by Tantansai, 14th generation grandmaster, with the words, “Hibi arata, mata hi arata nari”, meaning each day is new, and is renewed each day.  The flowers of camelia and plum blossoms welcomed the new year.

The otemae was Nagaita futatsu oki usucha demae with teishu, Mme. Soshin Abe and hanto, Somi Gill.  

The guests enjoyed the different tea bowls used as they had motifs of the new year as well as the horse, the zodiac, for this year.