If you like, please repeat it out loud in Japanese.
[Japanese page]
[Previous article]
[Next article]
2025年12月1日。
December 1, 2025.
今日は、京都・北野天満宮で開催される「献茶祭」についてお伝えします。
Today, I’d like to tell you about the Kencha Festival, to be held at Kitano Tenmangu Shrine in Kyoto.
400年以上の歴史を持つ茶道が、現代にも息づいていると突然言ったら、信じますか？
Would you believe me if I suddenly told you that the tea ceremony, which has a history of over 400 years, is still alive and well in the modern day?
実は、今日だけ、歴史への扉が静かに開かれるのです。
In fact, for just one day, a door to history quietly opens.
献茶祭とは、千利休ゆかりの茶の湯を神前に捧げる特別な儀式です。
The Kencha Festival is a special ceremony in which the tea ceremony associated with Sen no Rikyu is offered to the altar.
神職や茶道家たちの神前儀礼における非日常的な立ち居・振る舞い、そして空気が一変する「静寂のひととき」が特徴です。
It is characterized by the extraordinary posture and demeanor of the priests and tea ceremony practitioners in the ritual before the altar, and a moment of silence when the atmosphere changes completely.
まさに時を超えた「茶のパフォーマンス」と言えるでしょう。
It is truly a timeless tea performance.
まず、茶筅の音が呼吸のリズムに溶け込む。
First, the sound of the tea whisk blends into the rhythm of breathing.
次に、湯気が立ち上る瞬間が、心を和ませる。
Next, the moment when steam rises soothes the soul.
そして、一杯のお茶に歴史と祈りが込められている。
And finally, history and prayer are infused into each cup of tea.
まるで茶室がもう一つの神社になったかのような感覚です。
It is as if the tea room has become another shrine.
これこそが日本文化の真髄であり、「一期一会」の真髄です。
This is the essence of Japanese culture, and the true essence of the saying “ichigo ichie.”
もし今日京都にいらっしゃるなら、五感を研ぎ澄ませて北野天満宮の茶会をぜひご覧ください。
If you’re in Kyoto today, be sure to sharpen your senses and experience the tea ceremony at Kitano Tenmangu Shrine.
きっと訪れる人すべてが、「音」と「空間」を創り出すヒントを見つけることができるでしょう。
I’m sure everyone who visits will discover new insights into creating “sound” and “space.”
そして最後に…
And finally…
私のお気に入りの朝食は、焼き鮭、味噌汁、炊きたての白米、そして庭で採れた野菜と漬物です。
My favorite breakfast is grilled salmon, miso soup, freshly cooked white rice, and vegetables and pickles from the garden.
派手ではありませんが、心を落ち着かせるために必要な食事です。
It’s not flashy, but it’s a necessary meal to calm the soul.
🍵 Additional Information on the Kitano Tenmangu Kenshasai
The Kenshasai has its roots in the famous Kitano Grand Tea Gathering (Kitano Ōcha no Yu) hosted by the warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1587.
| Event Details | Information |
| Date | Monday, December 1, 2025 |
| Time | 10:00 AM start (approx.) |
| Location | Kitano Tenmangu Shrine Main Hall (Honden) |
| Tea School Serving | Omotesenke Fushin’an (This school rotates serving duties every six years.) |
🏛️ Tea Ceremony Seating (Cha-seki)
On the day of the Kenshasai, tea seats (tea rooms) are set up within the shrine grounds and the nearby Kamishichiken Geisha district for general attendees (requires a paid ticket).
- Main Seat (Honseki): Opens after the ritual concludes (approx. noon).
- Sub-Seats (Fukuseki): Opens from 9:00 AM (approx.).
- The seating areas in Kamishichiken may feature tea served by Geiko and Maiko (Kyoto’s geisha and apprentice geisha).
- Tea Tickets (Haihuku Chaken): Usually priced around ¥10,000 (covers all tea seats and admission). Tickets are typically sold in early November, with a limited number of tickets available on the day of the event starting at 9:00 AM.
🍂 Pre-Event: Tea Jar Dedication and “Breaking the Seal”
A related, centuries-old ceremony takes place a few days before the Kenshasai on November 26th:
- Tea Jar Procession (Gochatsubo Gyōretsu): Tea jars containing tea leaves gathered from across the country are paraded to the shrine, led by young women dressed as Tea Pickers (Chazumemusume).
- Seal-Breaking Ceremony (Kuchikiri-shiki): The ancient ritual of breaking the seal on the tea jars is performed before the deity, preparing the tea that will be offered in the Kenshasai.
This series of events, spanning over 400 years, is unique to Kitano Tenmangu Shrine and carries the spirit of Hideyoshi’s Grand Tea Gathering—promoting harmony regardless of social standing through the sharing of tea.
✨ Explaining “Ichi-go Ichi-e” Simply
“Ichi-go Ichi-e” (pronounced: ee-chee-goh ee-chee-eh) is a Japanese concept that essentially means: “Treasure every encounter and opportunity as if it were the only one you will ever have in your life.”
💡 Key Points of the Meaning
- “Ichi-go” (一期): “One Lifetime”
- This refers to your entire span of life, from birth to death.
- “Ichi-e” (一会): “One Encounter/Meeting”
- This means a single, specific event or meeting.
🍵 Origin: The Way of Tea (Chadō)
The phrase originated as a core principle in the Japanese Tea Ceremony (Chadō).
- It was an ethical teaching shared by great tea masters like Sen no Rikyū.
- The idea is: “Even if you hold tea gatherings with the same people many times, the specific gathering happening right now, this very moment, is a unique and precious opportunity that can never be repeated.”
- Therefore, the host (the one serving) must prepare with their whole heart to offer the very best experience, and the guest (the one invited) must receive it with full appreciation. It teaches an attitude of “Absolute Focus and Sincerity” in the present moment.
🧍 “Ichi-go Ichi-e” in Daily Life
Today, the concept is used not only in tea ceremony but also for all types of human encounters and opportunities to experience something.
| Situation | Mindset |
| Friends You See Daily | Even though we meet every day, this moment we are spending together right now will never return. So, let’s cherish today. |
| Meeting While Traveling | I might never see this person again. I will be fully present and sincere in this conversation to enjoy it to the fullest. |
| Work or Opportunity | This specific job or chance is here and now. I will dedicate my full effort to it so I have no regrets later. |
📌 Summary
“Ichi-go Ichi-e” delivers a positive and heartwarming message: “Every moment and every encounter in life is valuable and irreplaceable. Since you can’t get it back, treat that time as if it were the most important one.”
