11 Comments
User's avatar
Portia's avatar

The tea ceremony utensils are to die for, and I love your dad's pictures.

SHIMIZU Akira's avatar

My father took photos of my grandmother's tea ceremony utensils, and I published them. It’s a collaboration spanning three generations. (^o^)

Jeremy Clarke's avatar

Beautiful objects. The patina of age and use makes all the difference.

Portia's avatar

Indeed, they've been loved and it shows.

SHIMIZU Akira's avatar

When I consider how these items have been passed down through the war of over 80 years ago, I cannot help but feel the weight of history within them.

Li Chen's avatar

These are wonderful, Akira san! I love Japanese tea wares.

SHIMIZU Akira's avatar

Thank you! To my shame, I am not very well-versed in the Japanese tea ceremony, so I don't fully grasp their value. However, I am certain that they represent a part of my family's history.

Tim Baynes Painter and Writer's avatar

A wonderful story and puts me in mind of a favourite book: In Praise of Shadows by Jun'ichirō Tanizaki Thank you

SHIMIZU Akira's avatar

To my shame, I have never read the work by Tanizaki that you mentioned. Upon looking it up, it seems to be a piece that is widely read outside of Japan. That is truly fascinating.

Barbara's avatar

I am catching up on all your recent photo posts. I just came back from a holiday in Japan and it's really good to see those photos right now. On the plane back to the UK I incidentally sat next to a lady who was a tea master! She made bowls of match (she had brought a thermos with hot water, the bowls and the tea and the rest of the utensils in her cabin luggage!) and I received one from her which was very very lovely.

SHIMIZU Akira's avatar

Drinking matcha freshly prepared on a plane is a rare experience. You are a very lucky person to have had that opportunity!