The Japanese Tea Ceremony

From left, a chawan (tea bowl), chasen (bamboo whisk), and chashaku (bamboo tea scoop) sitting on top of a tea container.

The roji provides a natural environment for guests to relax before entering the tea hut.

Participants set a folding fan on the tatami mat in front of them when greeting others at the service.

A silk fukusa serves to ritually purify tea utensils.

Sweets are placed on paper kaishi and eaten using a yōji.

A participant prepares to partake in a bowl of usucha or thin tea.