Manpukuji Temple in Uji City holds a special place in Japan’s Senchado tradition, as its founder, Ingen, is considered the pioneer of loose-leaf tea in the country. Each year, the temple hosts Tsukimi Senchado—moon-viewing tea ceremonies—bringing together various Senchado schools to celebrate on its historic grounds.
This year’s event took place on October 12th, featuring five different Senchado schools, each occupying a different corner of the expansive temple. The event ticket allowed guests to experience three different ceremonies throughout the afternoon. The grounds of the temple were so vast, though, that it was easy to lose your way while exploring from one ceremony to the next.
Among the schools, Ogasawararyu stood out for its youthful energy, with many young Japanese participating as both hosts and guests. Obaku Baisaryu impressed with a relaxed and unconventional approach: participants sat comfortably in chairs, and light music played in the background — quite unusual for tea ceremonies. Adding to the surprise, our dear Tea Catalyst, Jan Chan, was helping her Senchado teacher to host the ceremony.
Overall, it was a rare opportunity to experience the deeper aspects of Japanese tea culture in a truly unique setting.