Unit 8 O-MO-TE-NA-SHI Japanese Culture
REVIEW

Put the following Japanese into English.
1. 日本では、禅が日本文化の底流をなす真髄であるといわれています。
2. 茶道は、禅の教えに基づいています。
3. 茶道は、特別に建てられた茶室で行われます。
4. 床の間とよばれるアルコーブがあり、そこに掛け軸か、生け花か、あるいは両方ともを飾ります。

茶道Tea Ceremony (2)CONVERSATION 1

Key words:
・embarrassed

きまり悪い思いをする・garment 衣服
1. Listen to the conversation twice without looking at the text.
2. Now repeat after the teacher, looking at the text.

1

A: If I were to be invited to a formal tea ceremony, I would feel nervous.
B: Don’t worry. All you need is some basic understanding of tea ceremonyand just imitate what other guests are doing.
A: So, what should I know beforehand?
B: You wouldn’t feel embarrassed as long as you know some unwritten dress
code rules. Just ask what kind of clothing is required, Western or Japanese. In
the former case, take clean white socks with you and wear them before theceremony starts. In the latter case, take clean white tabi, traditional
Japanese ankle-high socks with a separation between the big toe and othertoes.
A: Anything else?
B: You need to take off watches, rings, and other accessories. And leave thecell phone behind.
A; Do I need to take anything else with me?
B: Take along some kaishi paper, used as a mat to put sweets on, or to wipe
the edge of the tea bowl after drinking the tea. And don’t forget akuromoji-yoji, which is a handmade toothpick used as knife and fork wheneating sweets.
3. Read the conversation until you memorize it.
4. Role playYour teacher plays the role of A and you play the role of B.

2CONVERSATION 2

A: Is that all?
B: One more thing. There are two seating positions that any first-time
participant should avoid. First, the main guest of honor, shokyaku, sits nearest
to the ‘tokonoma’ alcove. And then, the last guest, makkyaku, sits nearest tothe guest entrance. The roles of the former is to converse with the host,
discussing the (		) merits of the hanging scroll, and the flower

arrangement displayed in the tokonoma and quite often to discuss themerits of the tea (		). Makkyaku also plays an important role in making

sure that the ceremony goes without a hitch. So, I think you should tell otherguests that you are a first-timer so that they take care of you and make sure
you do not sit in the wrong position.
A: I see. Then all I do is to do what other people do, right?
B: Yes. All you need to do is to observe what other people around you aredoing, and follow their lead. It doesn’t matter if you make some mistakes.
You’ll see that guests relax and enjoy the atmosphere of simplicity createdby the sounds of the boiling water in the iron tea kettle, the scent of(		) and tea, and the beauty of the tea house and its seasonally(		) decorations. All you need to do is just enjoy the tea ceremony!

3. Now repeat after the teacher, looking at the completed text.

3

CONVERSATION 3

1. Read and learn the following key words, which appear in the text yourteacher is going to read.
Key words:
・dominant 主要な非対称・asymmetry
・patina

さび・quintessential

典型的な・aesthetic

美意識・transitory

つかの間の；はかない・Hellenic

ギリシャの2. Listen and answer the questions.

4

QUESTIONS

1. What is wabi?
2. What is sabi?
3. What underlies these wabi-sabi principles?
PRACTICE SENTENCES

Put the following Japanese into English.
1.足袋とは、伝統的な日本のかかとまでの履物で、親指とほかの指が分かれています。
2. わび・さびとは、典型的な日本人の美意識です。

5