学校茶道; 創設メンバー卒業、次世代へ ― 茶道部３年目（２０２５年) @Fort Hamilton High School, Brooklyn, NY

2025年は、数茶の初釜でスタートし、初心者クラスも立礼の基本を学び始めました。

クラブ設立以来初めて、表千家不審庵より7名が正式に入門のお免状を拝受するという大きな成果もありました。

日々の積み重ねと部員の真摯な取り組みの成果です。

３月の15周年記念の市民茶会では茶道部顧問のRandall先生を支部長席に招待して頂き、お家元とご一緒のお席という貴重な体験に感謝のお言葉を頂いております。

6月には、クラブ創設期から活動を支えてきた8名の部員が卒業しました。それぞれが部の成長に大きく貢献し、創設者であり、クラブ創設の2023年から共同部長として中心的な役割を担ってきた中川琴絵を含め、皆の努力が現在の茶道部の礎となりました。校内での認知度も高まり、折り紙・ファッション各クラブとコラボをして茶の湯を紹介したり、作陶クラブと茶碗作りを体験しました。また、Art　Fairでは、部員たちが総合芸術としての茶の湯の紹介をして校内で大変好評でした。

一人ひとりの協力と情熱があったからこそ、茶道部はここまで素晴らしく発展することができたと思います。卒業式では表千家学校茶道部の一員としての誇りを表す抹茶色にちなんだ緑色の「Graduation Tassel Cord」を卒業ガウンに身につけ、誇らしい姿で式に参加しました。Class of 2025の皆様、ご卒業おめでとうございます。

１年かけて在校生に引き継ぎも順調に進み、後輩たちが次の活動を担います。

卒業式の週末には、セントラルパークで行われた野点茶会に参加し、自然の中で茶道部の思い出や最後のお茶会を楽しみました。卒業生の多くが、大学でも茶道を続けたいと話してくれています。

これからも、茶の湯を通して多様性を受け入れる思いやりの心と日本文化の魅力を伝えていきます。

Class of 2025: From Founders to Future - A New Chapter Begins (Year 3) | Fort Hamilton High School

Tea Ceremony Club Highlights (Jan–June 2025)

We kicked off the year with Hatsugama, a traditional New Year’s tea gathering. Our beginner students also started learning a table-style tea ceremony designed for modern settings.

A major milestone followed—six members received beginner certificates from the 15th-generation Grand Master of Omotesenke, Yuyusai, in Kyoto, a direct descendant of Sen no Rikyu, the pioneer of the Japanese tea ceremony. This rare honor recognizes their dedication to practicing traditional Japanese tea.

At the 15th Anniversary Public Tea Gathering in March, our club advisor, Ms. Randall, was honored to be invited to have the same session with the Grand Master of Omotesenke—a rare and meaningful experience she deeply appreciated. 

We collaborated with the Origami and Fashion clubs to introduce the Way of Tea, and make our own tea bowls with the Ceramics Club. At the Art Fair, our members presented a tea ceremony as a form of integrated art, which was well received by the school community.

In June 2025, seniors who had supported the club since its founding graduated. Each of them made valuable contributions to the club’s growth, including Kotoe Nakagawa, one of the founding members and co-presidents since 2023. Their collective effort laid the foundation for what the Tea Ceremony Club has become today.

It is thanks to the passion and teamwork of every member that the club has grown so beautifully. At graduation, the seniors wore green “Graduation Tassel Cords,” inspired by the color of matcha, as a symbol of pride in their time with the Omotesenke style Japanese tea ceremony club members. Congratulations to the Class of 2025!

Over the past year, they successfully passed on their knowledge and leadership to the Juniors, who are now continuing the club’s activities.

During graduation weekend, members attended an outdoor tea gathering (nodate, noh-da-te) in Central Park, where they enjoyed tea and celebrated their journey together. Many of the graduates plan to establish a tea ceremony club to continue tea practice in college.

We look forward to continuing to share the spirit of tea—kindness, mindfulness, and the beauty of Japanese culture—with our school and community here at FHHS.