Tea ceremony using a tea chest (chabako-demae) in front of the Basilica Cathedral of Saint-Denis.

I held an Asacha-no-yu, the “morning tea” gathering that has become a familiar tradition at Tokyo Tower, in Paris at the early hours of the morning.

The Basilica of Saint-Denis is a place of particular importance in French history, as the historic burial place of the French royal family. It may well be the church I have visited more often than any other in my life.

It was 5:30 in the morning.

Having obtained the necessary permission in advance, I simply spread a 60-by-60-centimeter furoshiki cloth on the square in front of the basilica and prepared tea in the quiet of the early morning.

For the first bowl, I thought of Louis XIV, the Sun King, under whose reign the armor of the Mori family was transported to Versailles.

For the second bowl, I thought of Pierre Pincemaille, the renowned organist of Saint-Denis.

Although, to be fair, I suspect he would probably have preferred a cigarette to a bowl of matcha.

The basilica is currently undergoing the reconstruction of its spire, which was lost in the 19th century.

I am already looking forward to seeing how much it has progressed when I return next time.

It was a hot summer morning, but also a morning in which I was able to bring together, in one small moment, so many of the things I love.

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