The Gentle Beauty of “Love” — A Moment with Calligraphy and Tea

Yesterday, we welcomed a lovely guest who created this beautiful calligraphy of the character “愛” (Ai), meaning Love.

She shared a wonderful story — her mother and her husband’s aunt were both calligraphers. As a child, she used to learn calligraphy at a temple. Even though she hasn’t practiced in years, the elegance of her brushstrokes showed how naturally the art still lives within her.

She also enjoyed a quiet moment with matcha and traditional sweets. We talked leisurely, surrounded by the calm atmosphere of our Japanese room.

She mentioned that she once studied the tea ceremony — first in the Omotesenke school, and later Urasenke after moving. Now, she’s considering joining a Mushanokouji-senke class nearby. Hearing that she often enjoys tea in her daily life, I felt truly honored when she said our matcha was delicious.

We are deeply grateful for this peaceful afternoon, filled with warmth, conversation, and the quiet elegance of “愛”.