We welcomed the new year and celebrated the first tea.

This year, it is the assortment of “kaigu“ with bamboo patterns on the "nagaita" (long board). The utensils (fresh-water container, waste-water container, ladle standing) placed there are called "kaigu" with the same color pattern and the blue bamboo dyeing gives a sense of spring.

The hanging scroll is the usual “Good day every day'' (written by Fujii Kaido, Daitokuji Temple in Kyoto).

The flower vase is made of celadon porcelain and pine, senryo, and daffodils arranged feature New Year.

The tea bowl used for the tea is called "The three types of fruits" (Mino ware). The three fruits are peaches, tangerines, and pomegranates. Peach represents 'amulet', bell represents 'financial luck', and pomegranate represents 'good health'.

The inside of the bowl is black, and it goes well with the bamboo utensils and the vermilion “natsume” (tea container). It's a lucky charm to pray for good luck in the new year. It's an auspicious wish for good luck in the new year. The color of the kimono of the person who is preparing the tea is beautiful.

The "Akebono Natsume" is colored with a pine and crane lacquer work that is favorited by The Urasenke 11th Gengensai.

The tea scoop is named "Hatsuharu" (First spring) made by Zen-daitoku, Sekiou Fukumoto.

The sweets are cute rabbits 🐰. It's made at the famous confectionery store "Usagi-ya" in Utsunomiya, and the gift by a student of my tea class. The dried sweets called "U"(rabbit in Chinese astrology) of Kamakura Toshima-ya colors the New Year, and we can also eat its colander. Conversation was lively with each of the sweets, and it became a bright first tea.

This is a commemorative photo (below) with everyone.

May this year be a healthy and enjoyable tea.