Arts of tea-making, calligraphy offer Jordanians glimpse of Japanese culture

AMMAN — Japanese art, culture and language took centre stage at a two-day event organised by the Japanese embassy in Amman on Sunday and Monday at Al Hussein Cultural Centre. 

Jordanians of all ages and backgrounds were invited to experience firsthand the deep-rooted traditional Japanese arts of tea-making and calligraphy on Sunday, in an effort to spread Japanese culture in Jordan, according to event organisers. 

Japanese expert on the Japanese traditional tea ceremony (“Sa-dou”) and calligraphy (“Sho-dou”) Wakako Yamaguchi, who is also vice president of the Institute for Japanese Culture Experience and Education in Tokyo, Japan, led the two-part event. 

The event was attended by participants from the local community and Japanese ambassador to Jordan Hidenao Yanagi, who had the opportunity to watch Yamaguchi as she performed the traditional tea ceremony, which she compared to a “stage drama with several acts”.

She also explained the importance of the making, serving and drinking of the green tea in reflecting Japanese tradition and teaching values such as patience, hospitality and leadership. 

Yamaguchi then introduced the Japanese art of calligraphy and guided participants in writing Japanese characters with traditional tools. 

Ambassador Yanagi gave an address at the event, introducing Yamaguchi, who he said “tries to convey the spirituality of Japanese culture to foreign people in the English language”.

For her part, Yamaguchi told The Jordan Times that from these cultural events, she wants participants to “learn about spirit”, adding that “we have the same spirit, we feel… we admire, respect and love each other”. 

Doha Salama, a young attendee, told The Jordan Times: “I heard a lot about [Japanese] green tea and I saw a lot about their culture, traditions and hospitality on TV and how they serve tea to their guests. I have been wanting to taste it and to see firsthand how they make the tea and present it.”