About TORIAN
“TORIAN”
The tea house is named after a simple poem of the famous Chinese poet Tao Yuanming that describes the act “to pick a chrysanthemum flower from an east fence.” The carved wooden framed emblem of To-ri-an, which is shown on the right, was drawn by Sekiou Tajima, a famous Buddhist monk from Nanshu-ji in Sakai, Osaka.
The Class Room
We welcome visitors who want to practice and enjoy making tea. You will feel peacefulness through a bowl of tea with the guidance of experienced students at our spacious eight-tatami-matted-room.
The “Chashitsu”
We also welcome students at our “Ni-jo-dai-me” which is a smaller exclusive two-tatami-matted room. This room is usually intended for formal tea gathering on special occasions to serve Kai-seki-ryo-ri (Japanese Cha-no-yu Cuisine), Koi-Cha (powdered green tea), and Cha-gashi (sweets to pair with the tea).
The “Cha-ni-wa”
The Cha-ni-wa (tea garden) of To-ri-an is an abstract imitation of forest-landscape. Cha-ni-wa is a place where we take away the spiritual dust from everyday world. Here, we have beautifully laid stones, plants, and a stone lantern with a low water basin, all of which compose a spiritual gate to the room.
The “Sumi-de-mae”
We serve Cha (Japanse tea) with Sumi-de-mae, which is an authentic and traditional charcoal–laying style hearth to boil the kettle. The Sumi-de-mae serving gives a special and luxurious atmosphere, which is an essential procedure for authentic Japanese tea serving.
The “Mizu-ya”
At the Mizu-ya (the back room for assisting tea gathering), students will learn not only how to organize utensils necessary for serving tea, but also how to clean and keep them in the right places. This lesson brings tranquility and purification to the mind, and is considered to be the most important process of mastering Japanese tea.
Professors
Tea Ceremony Professor
Souei Funakoshi
Born in Shiga, in 1969, after graduating from Kyoto University of Foreign Studies, he started working for a major retail company in Japan. While working at the company, he began practicing tea ceremony in order to learn more about Japanese hospitality. He entered the Tea Ceremony Department of Urasenke Gakuen Tea Ceremony College. After graduation, he and his wife started “Meguro Torian Chado Kyoshitsu” in Meguro, Tokyo, after 6 years of training as a disciple in the Grand Master’s Department. He has taught numerous corporate tea ceremony training programs in Japan and abroad. In September 2019, he received the title of Urasenke Professor. Introduced tea ceremony to more than 800 guests as a host for a major American vacation rental. He continues to offer tea ceremony experiences at OTONAMI, a Japanese culture experience platform.
2016 Urasenke Seinenbu Member Special Award
2018 Urasenke Tanko-kai Award (Achievement in Education)
2020 Urasenke Tanko-kai Award (Achievement in Education)
Tea Ceremony Professor
Souai Kawada
She spent her elementary school years in the United States and her junior high school years in Hong Kong. After graduating from Ferris University, she joined Merrill Lynch Securities in 1993. After boarding the “Ship for World Youth,” one of the Cabinet Office’s international exchange programs for young people, she began to think that she would like to introduce the traditional culture of tea ceremony to as many people as possible. She entered Kyoto Urasenke Gakuen Tea Ceremony College. After graduation, she completed the 6-month course of the research course. In December 2019, she received the title of Urasenke Professor. She is a bilingual teacher and has a reputation for her classes for foreigners and children with her experiences in raising children. Currently, she holds workshops at art museums and teaches tea ceremony to foreign staff at major IT companies and listed companies.
2016 Urasenke Seinenbu Member Special Award
2018 〜 Engaged in introducing English tea ceremony at Panasonic Tokushinken
2018 〜 Supervisory on Suntory N.Y. Office tearoom 2022 Tea demonstration for foreign guests and in Suntory Museum
