On the 22nd of August at MOELC, about 50 students attended a special tea ceremony workshop conducted by Mr Kobori Sojitsu, the 13th Grand Master of Enshu Sado School of Tea. The 50 students present came from various schools and all of them study Japanese as a third language.
Grand Master Kobori Sojitsu explained to the students what tea ceremonies are all about and the principles of tea that can be applicable to everyday life. Grand Master Kobori Sojitsu taught the students 3 fundamental words ‘Itadakimasu, Osaki ni shitsureitashimasu, Gochisousama deshita’. Those in attendance were also lucky enough to receive explanations on tea from the Grandmaster as it isn’t often that he comes to Singapore.
The students were in awe as they witnessed a special demonstration done by Ms Esther Au Yan Shuin. This was the first time that the students were able to witness a demonstration of serving tea, in the Japanese way. All eyes stared transfixed at Ms Esther Au as she made the tea. The 20 students who tried the tea had to sit on the tatami area which was constructed temporarily to create the ambience of a traditional Japanese tea room. Students were able to experience the peaceful and serene nature of a Japanese Tea Ceremony.
 
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