Workshops
Teaching Through Chanoyu at Shoseian Teahouse
Chanoyu (literally “hot water for tea,” sometimes called the “tea ceremony”) is much more than ritual—it is a living, embodied intersection of art, history, design, and social interaction. In this onsite workshop, K–12 educators will enter the tranquil setting of the Shoseian Teahouse to participate, observe, and reflect on what makes chanoyu both a mindful cultural practice and a deep historical tradition. Through the gestures of preparing and sharing tea, participants will experience first-hand how shape, movement, and silence convey meaning.
You will engage with the material culture of the tea gathering: teabowls, utensils, hanging scrolls, seasonal flower arrangements, and more. Each object is charged with aesthetic decisions, symbolism, and cultural value. As you inhabit the roles of host and guest, you will feel how attention, etiquette, and presence arise in practice, not just in theory. You’ll brainstorm ways to bring these embodied elements into classroom design: observation activities, object-based inquiry, role rotations, and interdisciplinary projects. Observe deeply. Participants will be invited to slow down and attend to each object not only visually but through touch and movement. By the close of the session, we will all gather to think about how to bring chanoyu-inspired learning into your classroom through artifact discussions, descriptive writing, mindful transition routines, collaborative inquiry, or silent observation exercises. You will leave with curated resources and a lens for making Japanese culture palpable, reflective, and alive for your students.