Following the directives of Professor Dr. Le Quan, Director of Vietnam National University, Hanoi, the Vietnam-Japan University hosted a Japanese tea ceremony experience program in collaboration with the Hanoi Urasenke Tankokai Club and the Urasenke Tea Ceremony Club of USSH (University of Social Sciences and Humanities).
Mr. Machita Soryu, Vice Head of the Urasenke School of Tea Ceremony, presided over the tea offering ceremony to leaders from Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Vietnam-Japan University, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, and the Japanese Embassy in Vietnam. In a warm and open atmosphere, Mr. Machita shared the fundamental principles of the Urasenke school of tea ceremony, as well as the appearance of the tea bowl originating from Vietnam, called Annam yaki, as a symbol of cultural exchange between the two countries in the art of tea ceremony. He further explained that the round tea bowl and the green tea symbolize the Earth and the abundance bestowed by nature, and that we need to preserve that peace. Therefore, at the center of the event space, we placed a calligraphy piece with the word "PEACE" between the national flags of Vietnam and Japan.
Mr. Machita Soryu, Deputy Head of the Urasenke Tea Ceremony School, offered tea and explained the meaning of the Tea Ceremony.
Mr. Machita Soryu performs the tea offering ceremony.
Mr. Watanabe Shige (Deputy Ambassador of the Japanese Embassy) delivered a welcoming speech.
Associate Professor Pham Bao Son, Vice Director of Vietnam National University, Hanoi, shared that he had previously attended a tea ceremony in Japan and was deeply moved to be able to enjoy Japanese tea ceremony with the flavor of Vietnamese tea right here in the Hoa Lac University Urban Area. At the same time, Vice Director Nguyen Hoang Hai discussed the idea of building a tea brand using the 500-hectare raw material area in Hoa Lac, including matcha products for tea ceremonies.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Bao Son, Vice Director of Vietnam National University, Hanoi, enjoys tea.
Speaking at the event, Professor Hoang Anh Tuan, Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, also expressed his admiration for Japanese culture in general and the peaceful spirit of Japanese tea ceremony in particular. At the same time, Rector Hoang Anh Tuan shared his pride in establishing the Urasenke Tea Ceremony Club of USSH with many meaningful activities, especially the small contribution of the students of the Urasenke Tea Ceremony Club of USSH to this important event. Mr. Machita wished Professor Hoang Anh Tuan and the distinguished guests good health and invited them to enjoy the tea brewing and serving demonstration by the students.
Rector Hoang Anh Tuan poses for a commemorative photo with the leaders, lecturers of the Faculty of Oriental Studies and students of the Japanese Studies Department, and members of the Urasenke Tea Ceremony Club of USSH.
A student, a member of the Urasenke USSH Tea Ceremony Club, performs the tea-making ritual for the guests.
Members of the Urasenke USSH Tea Ceremony Club are excited before the performance.
The event concluded but left a very positive impression on the delegates. For many, this was their first time directly experiencing a long-standing and distinctive aspect of Japanese culture right in the modern university urban area, the spacious grounds of Hanoi National University, and using Vietnamese tea as the main ingredient. Even more interestingly, the exquisite art of tea ceremony was not only performed by renowned Japanese artists but also by students from the Japanese Studies Department of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities. This demonstrates the exchange and blending of traditional cultures between the two countries and is a meaningful event in the series of practical activities commemorating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Japan.
