Last year, when the autumn leaves were falling, I was invited by a family member to the tea room at the Honen-in Temple villa near Ginkakuji Temple in Kyoto, and I participated in a tea ceremony for the first time in my life.

All the tea masters attended the tea ceremony, but since I was a complete amateur, I was a bit embarrassed and unsure whether I should really join in.

At the tea ceremony, you first put on white socks at the entrance and wait in the first room, where a Persian carpet sits in the center of the room, where a wooden hand warmer (a brazier for warming the hands) from the Edo period shines orange with flickering charcoal, making you forget the cold for a moment. Hanging on the wall is a long horizontal painting of a man selling tea bowls, lightly painted in monochrome strokes as if quickly swiped with ink, and the brushwork is so outstanding that it seems as if it could jump out of the picture at any moment.

After admiring it for a while, I was shown into the next room. To get there, I had to open the lattice door to the veranda outside and walk across the veranda while glancing at the garden, but this garden was truly beautifully maintained. It looks natural, but is well cared for by humans. At first glance, it is unpretentious, yet elegant, and shows all sorts of expressions in every moment of every day through the seasons. The alluring feeling of the winter camellia touches the heart.

In the next room, about 20 people, men and women, of all ages, are seated, some in seiza and some in cross-legged positions. Here too, a scroll depicting a lakeside hermitage is casually hung in the tokonoma alcove, and everyone takes turns gazing at it, gazing at it with rapt attention. After a while, the host distributes sweets from a confectionery bowl to everyone. These are the sweets to be had before drinking the tea, and everyone takes a bite, gasping at the beauty of the sweets. The sweetness and freshness of the bean paste spreads throughout your mouth. It's indescribable. The sweetness is contrasted with the taste of tea, which feels just right. Of course, everyone bends down and peers at the confectionery bowl on the tatami mat. It is painted with colorful patterns they have never seen before. The patterns of the kimonos everyone is wearing are in keeping with the season, and each one has their own unique personality, making it the height of luxury that never tires of looking at.

Finally, it's time to have tea. We enter the tea room through the nijiriguchi (an entrance where you have to bend down to enter the tea room; everyone bows before entering, expressing gratitude and equality). It is proper etiquette to say to the person behind you, "Excuse me, I'll go first." About 10 people are seated crammed into the 6-tatami tea room.

The ceiling is low and there is no lighting. There is only one small window. The steam coming out of the kiln floats through the dark space, white and accompanied by the aroma of tea. It is solemn and mysterious that it gives you goosebumps.

After distributing the tea made by the organizer, we take a break. (Drinking tea) Looking at the tea utensils. Each piece has a story and its individuality shines through. Here, a scroll of calligraphy is hung, and the words "Banzai" are written with powerful brushstrokes. There is an aura that sends energy to the viewer.

Flowers, flower vases, and small items also decorate the tokonoma alcove. The host and the guest of honor (the most important guest among the guests, the person with the deepest knowledge of tea ceremony) chat about these items. Their exchanges are also fascinating. Tea ceremony is truly a comprehensive art form, a collection of things expressed by specialists in tea, calligraphy, painting, flowers, pottery, clothing, etiquette, sweets, and conversation.

There is absolutely nothing wasteful or excessive. You are completely immersed in this complex space. It feels truly comfortable.

The work of all the specialists is done without bias, and works in a balanced harmony without any sense of incongruity. It is also where conversations between people are born. I feel that this state of mind is far beyond the ideal of work. The way of tea gave me a hint about the world I am aiming for with content integration.