Nodate - Art of Japanese Tea Picnic

Summer is the season when we roll out the blanket, find a shaded tree overlooking a peaceful landscape and bring time to a stop.  

On a sunny day, we prepare some food, put it in containers, place those inside a basket, invite friends and go on a picnic.  Sometimes I include some tea - prepare a fresh pot in a thermos and serve it in small cups, nothing elaborate. 

That is until I saw an exhibit on Nodate - the Art of Japanese Tea Picnic. Drinking tea outdoors took a new dimension. 

Nodate, the tea culture of Japan takes outdoors tea drinking in a more casual style than the formal setting of Chanoyu. Also known as Chado, this highly stylized practice was created in the 16th Century by Sen no Rikyu who perfected the etiquette of the Way of Tea.

Tea time in Nodate follows the tradition of the seasons – in the Spring, the picnic is set in close proximity to a cherry tree blossoming; in the Fall, next to a palette of earthy colors whether it be a tree or autumn flowers, or simply a space in front of a beautiful scenery to contemplate the beauty of nature. We drink tea and read poetry, a haiku or waka. 

burgeoning dawn . . .
another tea leaf
unfurls in my cup

Instead, the art of Nodate is about creating an environment in a practical, easy set up while respecting the Japanese tradition of preparing, of serving and of drinking tea, yet elevating the experience to an art form. 

The Japanese have created chabako, tea boxes made for the occasion that contain all the basic traditional  tea accoutrements needed to make a bowl of tea. Some boxes are made with bamboo or lacquer or even leather. They are small enough for travel, embodying the Japanese aesthetics of kawaii- small, charming and elegant.

The small exhibit at the Nippon Club in Manhattan that I saw a summer ago, showed various Chabako styles from 19th Century to contemporary- My favorite came from a private collection from EBEYA, a store in Tokyo that sells antiques objects.  Most of the boxes exhibited were from the Edo period. There was an exquisite “pillow for travel” set that held the necessary vessel. It was used by Samurais to prepare tea and also to sleep on when traveling.  Other sets were wrapped in a shifuku, tied in an intricate bow where it was difficult to figure out the in and the out. I learned that tying a knot is an art form as well. 

All chaboko contain the necessary: you will find the kashiki-the caddy box; the koro-the incense burner; the kai-the flower vase; the chasen-the wisk-holder; the chawan-the tea bowl; the natsume- the caddy for matcha; the chakin-the tea napkin; and the chushaki-the matcha stick.

I recently bought a cotton hand bag with Japanese motif, a lunch box of sort that opens wide.  Little by little, I’m adding the accoutrement necessary to create by own chaboko. Soon, I will be taking my tea on the road and serving tea Nodate style.

I hope you will join me.