The ``Juko Tea Ceremony'', a large-scale tea ceremony held at temples and shrines in Nara City, began on the 6th.
The ``Juko Tea Ceremony'' is held every year in Nara City and other cities in honor of Murata Juko, a tea master from Nara who is said to have laid the foundations for tea ceremony during the Muromachi period.
The first day, the 6th, was held at two venues in Nara City, of which a Urasenke tea ceremony was set up at Daianji Temple, where 20 men and women dressed in kimono enjoyed two types of tea: strong tea and light tea.
A man in his 70s from Nara City said, ``I felt the joy of welcoming spring.This tea ceremony is befitting the ancient capital of Nara, so I hope it continues in the future.''
Munemi Yamauchi of the Urasenke Tanko-kai, which organized the tea ceremony, said, ``I could tell that the customers were happy, and we were able to spend some valuable time together and it was fun.'' We took this opportunity to share the joy of tea with many people. I would be happy if you knew about it," he said.
The ``Juko Tea Ceremony'' will be held until February 12th, and tea ceremonies will be held at Todaiji Temple, Kasuga Taisha Shrine, and other locations.