{"id":5120,"date":"2025-09-17T15:05:16","date_gmt":"2025-09-17T06:05:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oh-mama.tokyo\/?p=5120"},"modified":"2025-10-20T15:51:44","modified_gmt":"2025-10-20T06:51:44","slug":"osakini-the-secret-phrase-of-tea-ceremony","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oh-mama.tokyo\/?p=5120","title":{"rendered":"\u201cOsakini\u201d\u2014The Secret Phrase of Tea Ceremony"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Did you know that if you can naturally say \u201cOsakini<\/em>\u201d (\u304a\u5148\u306b), you might already be a Japanese language master?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a traditional tea ceremony, while the host prepares matcha, guests usually remain quiet. This is because the main guest (\u6b63\u5ba2, sho-kyaku<\/em>) and the host take center stage. The following guests are considered companions of the main guest\u2014just like in the samurai era, when lords would visit a tea master accompanied by their retainers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet, there is one short and elegant exchange between guests:
When drinking tea before the next person, you say \u201cOsakini<\/em>\u201d\u2014which means \u201cPlease excuse me for going before you.\u201d
The reply would be a silent bow, which means \u201cPlease, go ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This phrase is still alive in modern daily life in Japan. For example, when leaving the office while colleagues are still working, people say \u201cOsakini shitsurei shimasu<\/em>\u201d (\u304a\u5148\u306b\u5931\u793c\u3057\u307e\u3059)\u2014\u201cExcuse me for leaving before you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I remember as a teenager, someone kindly let me go first at a doorway or elevator. I said \u201cThank you, osakini<\/em>\u201d, and an adult nearby praised me: \u201cHow wonderful that you can say \u2018osakini<\/em>\u2019 so naturally!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, if you can use \u201cosakini<\/em>\u201d smoothly, Japanese people will notice and admire your manners. Try it at your next tea ceremony experience\u2014you\u2019ll be one step closer to mastering Japanese culture!<\/p>\n\n\n