A traditional Japanese tokonoma alcove with a hanging scroll, a red woven vase, and a small flower arrangement. The room has tatami mat flooring and a gold folding screen in the background.
Group of people sitting in a traditional Japanese tatami room, participating in a cultural activity, with a person kneeling at the front and a Japanese calligraphy scroll hanging on the wall.
A traditional Japanese room with tatami mats, wooden ceiling, and a decorative hanging scroll with Japanese calligraphy, illuminated softly.
Group of people dressed in traditional Japanese kimonos sitting in seiza position during a gathering or tea ceremony inside a Japanese-style room.
A group of people sitting on tatami mats in a traditional Japanese room, participating in a tea ceremony, wearing kimonos and traditional attire, with a scroll and decorative items on the wall.

2025年(令和7年)炉開き Robiraki

表千家同門会北加支部の炉開き茶会は、同門会員以外の一般のお客様にも参加していただけます。お茶を通してご縁をいただきました方々にたくさんお越しいただきました。

広間では薄茶席が5席、小間では濃茶席が4席設けられました。最後の薄茶席では、毎年恒例となっている、サンフランシスコ大学で日本語を学ぶ大学生と先生にお客様としてお入りいただきました。

この一期一会に感謝しつつ、お茶のお正月を皆様と楽しくお祝いいたしました。

*今回は茶壷と一緒にお花も飾ってみました。

Robiraki – Opening of the Tea Hearth

The Robiraki tea gathering welcomes not only Domonkai members but also guests from the general public. We were delighted to receive many visitors with whom we have formed connections through tea.

In the main tea room, five usucha (thin tea) sekis were held, while in the smaller tea room, four koicha (thick tea) sekis were prepared. At the last usucha seki, it has become a yearly tradition to welcome students and faculty from University of San Francisco who study Japanese, and they joined us as honored guests.

With gratitude for this once-in-a-lifetime encounter (ichigo ichie), we joyfully celebrated what is often called the “New Year of Tea” together.

A woman dressed in traditional Japanese attire preparing tea in a tatami room with wooden beams, a wall sconce, and a hanging scroll with calligraphy, along with a vase holding flowers mounted on a wooden post.
People participating in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony inside a tatami room.