01/04/2026
On Saturday, January 3rd we celebrated Hatsugama. Kathleen Blakely Honorary Counsel General of Japan Las Vegas Representative joined us and provided remarks about the New Year and the fire horse year. The attendees were Jodie, Jeannie, Miyuki, Kuniyo, Aki, Naoto, Jessica, Aynsley, and John joined us for zenzai. A plum kosen was served in the den. Then we enjoyed zenzai in the living room. After zenzai we moved to the tea room.
The scroll read ume hokorobi setsu zen ni kaori. The fragrance of plum when the buds are opening, snow is all around. Written by the 14th generation grand tea master Tantansai. The flowers were chysanthemum and lily in a Richard Milgrim KonkoGuro Tetsuki Hanaire (with Mentori) (Konko Black Faceted Vase with Handle). Jodie laid the charcoal made by her husband John.
Miyuki utilized a kotobuki tana and made koicha using a ohi chawan with a horse pattern carved into it and an Aizu Hongoyaki kasane chawan from the Munagata kiln. The chaire was a The Kokuhaku-Yū Mimitsuki Chaire is a Black & White Glaze Tea Caddy with “ears” made by Richard Milgrim. The chashaku was made by Shoju Shoshin and named Yuetsu—Joyfulness. The shifuku was an ichimatsu pattern on Thai silk.
Kuniyo make usucha for all of the guests. The natsume was a Ryukyu lacquer with a yuna design. The chashaku was named Shojyu everlasting longevity. It has Gensh*tsu’s kao. The first chawan was an Aka Shino made by Richard Milgrim. The other chawans were Kyoyaki with a nanten pattern, Kyoyaki with a pine pattern, Mashiko, and Kutani dento utushi.
After tea we retired to the living eoom to enjoy some delicious brownies that Kathleen made.
