04.15.07
Annantalo Japanese day
The annual Japan day at Annantalo, Helsinki.
Attended a tea ceremony, talked with some Japanese dancers from Kiso. The whole house was full of anime characters, some kimonos, and of course a whole lot of both Japanese and Finnish people. My arm was in bad shape, so I couldn’t wear the kimono. I was wearing my hip hop pants and haori, which my tea sensei in Japan thought was a cool combination.
I attended Urasenke Finland’s ryuurei dana (not kneeling on the tatami mat, but sitting on benches) tea ceremony, my first in a long, long time. It was arranged in a gym, so naturally the occasion was a mere demonstration. For five euros we got the okashi cake and a cup of tea. I stayed to talk with the hosts, and they noticed my sensu (fan) and tabi socks. Naturally, they started asking about my realtionship with tea, and I told them I had studied some while in Japan. The, in return told me about the tea ceremony school in Suomenlinna, and welcomed me there. I do intend to visit, hopefully more.
The visiting Japanese dancers from Kiso valley (Nagano, where Winter Olympics were held) somehow got the idea that a water ladle for rinsing hands and mouth in a tea garden was to be given, yes, donated, to me. So, I couldn’t stop thanking the lady. I now have a water ladle for “my tea garden.” I kind of feel some pressure to start gathering more moss, taking care of the cherry tree, which is now around 20 years old, and finding the rest of the stuff needed for a private tea room. What a great idea! I do have the garden, but I miss everything else!
Anyway, the Japanese day at Annantalo was a success, and I recommend the shows, lectures, and demonstrations for all interested in Japan, traditional or modern. The only negative detail was this Japanese woman making Japanese food that told me in Finnish (rudely) how busy they all are when I wanted to ask about Japanese clubs and societies in Helsinki. Sadly, she might have picked the rudness up here, after moving to Finland from Japan…
