Tea Gathering at the Official Residence of the Consul General of Japan in Barcelona

On November 13, I had the honor of hosting a tea gathering at the Official Residence of the Consul General of Japan in Barcelona, where I spoke about the history of Bizen ware and matcha, and offered tea in a ryūrei-style setting using the Misonodana tea stand of the Urasenke tradition.

Among our honored guests were representatives of the Government of Catalonia, members of the diplomatic corps in Barcelona, practitioners of Urasenke based in Barcelona, and many others who play important roles in fostering ties between Japan and Spain.

I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Consul General Watanabe and his wife, as well as to all the members of the Consulate-General, for their warm hospitality and generous support.

The flower arrangement may seem somewhat unusual for a tea gathering, as it features carnations, which are not often seen in the tea room. These flowers were gathered by the Consul General’s wife herself from the garden of the official residence, and she personally arranged them for the tea gathering.