Why Sencha-do?

Ogasawara Ryu Sencha-do (小笠原流煎茶道) is a ceremony based on the etiquette of the 14th century Ashikaga shoguns still practiced today. When it comes to manners in Japan, the Ogasawara Ryu Sencha-do school is the source that governs all etiquette. 

Tea is an essential and absolute part of daily life in Japan, but it extends beyond the formality of the tea ceremony. The connection between the host's actions, the home's static surroundings and composition of the tea room, all the way down to the shape and color of the utensils create the atmosphere that is the essence of the tea. 

From greeting guests entering the home using specific words based upon the season and time of day, to the importance of understanding the scrolls and ornaments adorning the rooms, through Sencha-do one will learn a wide variety of Japanese culture, art, and history.

In the Ogasawara Ryu Sencha-do school of tea ceremony, the words 和敬清閑 (WAKEISEIKAN) - harmony, respect, and tranquility - are very important. One must embrace balance, deepen trust, and have a pure heart filled with sincerity in order to be physically and mentally relaxed. Sencha-do is the way in which you can achieve this altruistic state.