Chado Urasenke West Hills California

04/05/2026

Saturday , April 4th Okeiko during Passover. The shikishi is in Hebrew and says Cherut (Freedom). During Passover we retell the Biblical story of The Exodus from Egypt. Written by my artist friend Malka Sedman.

The flowers are Tessen (clematis),the vase is zorori with the red lacquered tray that accompanies it.

The vase is too formal for this shikishi but was purposely done to honor the holiday.

The kogo is from Aachen, Germany and reminds us of the freedom the Jews sought from persecution by Hi**er.

03/04/2026

Congratulations on receiving your certificates.

03/04/2026

Hina Matsuri—picture of Inuma Sensei and Mr. Sensei.

03/02/2026

On Saturday, February 28th we celebration Miyuki who received her certificates for Daien no Shin, Shin no Gyo, and Sei Hikitsugi. Jodie and Kazuko presented the certificates. This presentation coincided with our community early Hina Matsuri (Girl’s Day) celebration. We enjoyed sakura kosen ( cherry blossom flavored water).

The guests were served a green oeach sweet named Momo Waka Hime (Young Peach Princess). Jodie made koicha (thick tea) for Miyuki. Aki made koicha for the guests.

Lunch was served and included chicken with a garlic ginger ponzu sauce, red shiso flavored rice, salmon sushi, soy picked cuxumber, and daikon mixed with yame tea. The vegetable plate included blanched snap peas, ponzu flavored sh*take mushrooms, twiated yam starch, sesame eggplant and lotus root.

Jessica made usucha (thin tea) for the guests.

01/04/2026

On Saturday, January 3rd we celebrated Hatsugama. Kathleen Blakely Honorary Counsel General of Japan Las Vegas Representative joined us and provided remarks about the New Year and the fire horse year. The attendees were Jodie, Jeannie, Miyuki, Kuniyo, Aki, Naoto, Jessica, Aynsley, and John joined us for zenzai. A plum kosen was served in the den. Then we enjoyed zenzai in the living room. After zenzai we moved to the tea room.

The scroll read ume hokorobi setsu zen ni kaori. The fragrance of plum when the buds are opening, snow is all around. Written by the 14th generation grand tea master Tantansai. The flowers were chysanthemum and lily in a Richard Milgrim KonkoGuro Tetsuki Hanaire (with Mentori) (Konko Black Faceted Vase with Handle). Jodie laid the charcoal made by her husband John.

Miyuki utilized a kotobuki tana and made koicha using a ohi chawan with a horse pattern carved into it and an Aizu Hongoyaki kasane chawan from the Munagata kiln. The chaire was a Kokuhaku-Yū Mimitsuki Chaire is a Black & White Glaze Tea Caddy with “ears”made by Richard Milgrim. The chashaku was made by Shoju Shoshin and named Yuetsu—Joyfulness. The shifuku was an ichimatsu pattern on Thai silk.

Kuniyo make usucha for all of the guests. The natsume was a Ryukyu lacquer with a yuna design. The chashaku was named Shojyu everlasting longevity. It has Gensh*tsu’s kao. The first chawan was an Aka Shino made by Richard Milgrim. The other chawans were Kyoyaki with a nanten pattern, Kyoyaki with a pine pattern, Mashiko, and Kutani dento utushi.

Aftwr tea we retired to the living room to enjoy some delicious brownies that Kathleen made.

11/08/2025

Making tea sweets for Robiraki. A fun day.

08/14/2025

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/fcebfa4b9ef620f8134b27be2e7476314a1e157b/images/000

千玄室さん - Yahoo!ニュース(京都新聞)

08/10/2025

Today the Urasenke Las Vegas students participated in Nisei Week in Los Angeles. Nisei week celebrates 2nd generation Japanese Americans and their culture. The week is held in August around the same time as the Obon festival which honors our ancestors.

In the alcove the chapter provided the alcove items. The scroll read Taki-waterfall and was written by Sekio Fukumoto. The flower was Rose of Sharon and cats tail in a basket. The incense container was in the shape of an uchiwa fan with a stick. The pattern on it was grass with young ayu fish.

Aki Stewart performed nagaita futatsu oki(with a kettle and brazier and water container on a long board. Miyuki Oh was the helper. Keiko Araki was first guest and Takako from Miwa Sensei’s class was our second guest. Dry sweets from Finland called Finnish marmalade were served to Keiko and Takako.

The chapter provided and Amidado shaped kettle and Doanburo brazier. The water container was made by Nevada’s most well known potter Tom Coleman. The tea container was Hakone Yosegi Zaiku. The tea scoop was made by Daitokuji Taido and name Zuiun(auspicious clouds). The tea bowl was konko yu glaze and made by Richard Milgrim who is very well known in the tea world. The kensui was made by Joeki.

We enjoyed see our tea friends and sharing a bowl of tea. Thank you so much to the LA chapter managers, teachers, and students who make this such a wonderful event.

06/08/2025

Saturday okeiko. Sweets from El Salvador (sweet potato with a hard sugar coating)—thank you Jessica. In a hand built bowl made by Nevada potter Peter Jakubowski. Flowers are Ditch Lily, Rose of Sharon, Chaste, and Field grass in an Indiana basket. Charcoal (sumi) made by my husband John.

06/01/2025

Todays tea lesson Chawan Kazari and Chasen Kazari, The water container (mizusashi) was made by Andi Goodman of Las Vegas, Nevada. For these procedures we substituted the beautiful matching lid for a black lacquered lid.