Lesson Blog January 31st, 2026

January has flown by, and we've reached the last day of the month. In the seventy-two seasonal divisions, this is “Chickens Begin to Lay Eggs,” the final division of the Great Cold. Spring feels just around the corner.

The hanging scroll at alcove is “Wa Kei Sei Jaku (Harmony, Respect, Tranquility, Silence).” Originating from Chinese “Tea Hall Purification Rules,”it was established by Sen no Rikyu as the fundamental spirit of the tea ceremony. It preaches the importance of respecting each other's individuality and living peacefully with a pure heart.

The flower is a yellow narcissus.

For the sweets, prepared“Fuku wa Uchi (Fortune Within)" (Confectionery Tsuruya Yoshinobu, Kyoto).