Questions about Sado, the Tea Ceremony: Do Guests Really Have to Remove All Their Accessories!?
Yes, it’s true.
When taking part in the Japanese tea ceremony, not only the host but also the guests are asked to remove all accessories—rings, watches, necklaces, earrings—yes, even your most precious wedding ring. If you arrive wearing them, you simply take them off before the tea begins.
“But guests only drink the tea… so why?”
The short answer is simple: to avoid damaging the tea bowl used for drinking matcha.
Important Utensil: The Matcha Bowl
Among all the utensils used in the tea ceremony, the matcha bowl is one of the most important. After all, the central purpose of the tea ceremony is for the guest to enjoy the matcha. Some hosts are fortunate enough to use bowls that are hundreds of years old, or valuable works created by Living National Treasures and other highly renowned potters—each piece carefully selected for the delight of their guests.
While none of the bowls at our salon are ancient or museum-worthy, every single one is handmade by a potter and truly one of a kind. In that sense, each bowl is irreplaceable, and we treasure and handle them with the utmost care.
To protect these precious bowls, both host and guest remove their accessories before entering the tea room. Many matcha bowls are made of soft earthenware. Porcelain may be hard, but earthenware is surprisingly delicate.
Unlike a teacup, a matcha bowl has no handle. You hold it with both hands, gently wrapping your palms around it as if embracing it. Because of this, rings or watches may scratch—or even crack—the surface as you lift the bowl. Earrings could slip off while bowing and fall against it. A necklace pendant might swing forward the moment you bow, striking the side of the bowl like a temple bell. In the worst case, it could even cause the bowl to break.
When you picture it that way, it does sound rather frightening, doesn’t it? You may feel inclined to remove your accessories right away.
A Lesson from My Teacher
My tea teacher used to tell us this story:
“Once, one of my students was washing my Hagi tea bowl—one of the most delicate and easily damaged types—and she held it just a little too tightly. It snapped clean in two. I was heartbroken. Always handle tea utensils with great care. Even the tools we use for everyday practice—treat them as if they were worth one or two million yen. If you do, your touch will naturally become gentle, no matter what you are holding or where you are. Then, wherever you go, even when you are entrusted with the most precious utensils, you will never find yourself in trouble.”
Someday, I hope I will have the opportunity to drink matcha from such a treasured bowl myself.
An Invitation to Experience Tea with Us
Why not experience the tea ceremony at our salon?
We are located in Ikenoue, just four minutes from Shibuya on the local train line, in a traditional Japanese house.
Place both palms gently around the tea bowl and enjoy not only the taste of the matcha, but also the warmth and texture of the bowl resting in your hands.
When you remove your accessories before we begin the tea ceremony, just be careful not to misplace your treasures while you’re here.
