Hello everyone,
I hope you're all doing well. This is Keko from the online staff.
There's this class called "Uji Studies" as part of our "Integrated Learning Time".
It's not just about Uji tea, but the whole experience of getting closer to it, learning about it - it's really fantastic.
The content of the class varies depending on the school, grade, and year, but let me tell you what I know.
(You'll hear my thoughts popping in sometimes)
We get to make our own tea bowls...
(Man, I wish we had that when I was in school)
Then, using the bowls we made, we learn to make Uji tea with a tea master, actually getting to whisk the tea ourselves and learning the proper etiquette...
(Plus, we get to enjoy some tea sweets, and even learn about hanging scrolls)
We serve the tea we've made to our parents...
(It's such a wonderful experience, it'll become such a great memory...)
We even try a 'Chakabuki'※ where we have to identify different types of tea brewed under the same conditions...
(Even adults find the 'Chakabuki'※ challenging 💦)
Of course, we also get to experience tea picking...
(Those soft and cute tea leaves are so nice to touch)
The Uji Studies class wouldn't be possible without the cooperation of people in the community.
It's truly a wonderful time of integrated learning (´∀｀)
※'Chakabuki'
"The game known as 'Chakabuki' is a tea-tasting activity where participants attempt to identify the type and origin of teas whose names are kept hidden. Referred to alternatively as 'Toucha,' it is said to have been introduced from China's Song dynasty towards the end of the Kamakura period and gained popularity among warriors, nobles, and monks from the Northern and Southern Courts to the middle of the Muromachi period in Japan.
The rules are simple: one by one, participants are presented with teas whose identities are concealed. Through observations of the tea leaves' color, shape, the hue of the brewed tea, its aroma, and flavor profile, participants try to discern the type and origin of the tea. Participants rely on their knowledge and sensory perceptions to make accurate guesses. This game not only enhances participants' understanding of tea but also enriches their appreciation for the nuances of tea enjoyment."