NAHA, OKINAWA, Japan -- Okinawa residents and Status of Forces Agreement members dressed in vibrant kimonos, filed into a tatami room for a Japanese tea ceremony class Sept. 17 in Naha.
The class allowed SOFA members to experience Japanese traditions and etiquette when they visit an Okinawa resident’s home.
“The class was a really great experience, especially for those of us who are guests on Okinawa,” said Ledera Swiger. “The Japanese people are such amazing hosts and it’s really important to me and to my family to engage in the culture here. This class is just one of the many ways to see Okinawa and understand that beautiful culture.”
The students bowed to instructors who served mochi, a Japanese dessert made with rice flour and sweet bean paste. As they bowed, students repeated polite Japanese phrases after the instructors and enjoyed the unique confection.
“It was really tasty,” said Swiger, a Beaufort, North Carolina, native. “I can’t wait to bring my daughter. Etiquette here in Japan is a very intricate thing and there’s always more to learn.”
After the dishes were taken away, the Okinawa resident hosts served tea and taught participants the proper way to drink the tea and compliment the hosts.
“It means a lot to Japanese people when Americans make the effort to learn about the culture here,” said Yasuko Shimazaki, an instructor at Yayoi Kimono shop and Cultural School. “When Americans gain a better understanding of Japanese culture, they enjoy their time more and they relate better to residents on the island. I think they really enjoy understanding why we do things the way we do, also.”
The hosts took away the dishes and one by one, the students learned how to prepare matcha, a powdered green tea commonly served at tea ceremonies. Once the tea was prepared, the students practiced bowing and presenting the tea to other guests.
“The best way to engage here on Okinawa is to jump in with both feet,” said Swiger. “I love just driving around Okinawa and discovering things for myself. There is always something new to try or be a part of, and the people on Okinawa are extremely hospitable.”
As the tea ceremony ended, SOFA members took photos with Okinawa residents before boarding the tour van.
“We hope to continue to teach this class to Americans,” said Shimazaki. “We have so much we would like to share with the American students and we also learn a lot from them as well. We practice being good hosts and they learn to be our guests, then we switch roles and they learn to host as well. That’s what friends do: share and learn from each other.”
For more information on upcoming cultural events and tours, visit: http://mccsokinawa.com/tours/.
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