Making Tea in Place: Experiences of Women Engaged in a Japanese Tea Ceremony

Abstract

This paper reports a small-scale qualitative study involving women who participated in the occupations of tea ceremony; an essential part of Japanese culture. Interviewing the women revealed the importance of using special tea implements in a performance comprising a series of occupational procedures from making the tea and hosting guests, to putting things away in a special place. Findings showed how engaging in tea ceremony enabled the sharing of common emotions, a sense of ongoing personal development, concentration, and a feeling of presence. The women's stories showed how the values espoused in the tea room, which is a special place in Japanese culture, gave meaning to ongoing participation in this tradition. These findings reveal that specific places have the potential to influence presence during occupational engagement and encourage the suspension of usual routines, learning new skills, and connecting with others who share common goals.

Keywords:

• Place
• Presence
• Tea ceremony
• Occupational engagement

Acknowledgements

We are grateful for the experiences we shared with colleagues engaging in tea ceremony occupations at Hiroshima University in Mihara, and in Hamamatsu Japan. Special thanks to the interviewers, Yuka Tanikawa, Ikuko Umeta, and Aya Furuta, and to Gloria Kilve for helping out with the English translation of the transcripts.