http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_tea_ceremony

A woman wearing a kimono performs a tea ceremony outdoors, while seated in seiza position on tatami.The Japanese tea ceremony (cha-no-yu, chadō, or sadō) is a traditional ritual influenced by Zen Buddhism in which powdered green tea, or matcha (抹茶), is ceremonially prepared by a skilled practitioner and served to a small group of guests in a tranquil setting.

Sadō or chadō (茶道, "the way of tea") is the study or doctrine of the tea ceremony. The pronunciation sadō is preferred by the Omotesenke tradition, while the pronunciation chadō is preferred by the Urasenke tradition.

Cha-no-yu (literally "hot water for tea") usually refers to a single ceremony or ritual, while cha-ji refers to a full tea ceremony with kaiseki (a light meal), usucha (thin tea) and koicha (thick tea), lasting approximately four hours. A chakai (literally "tea meeting") does not include a kaiseki meal.

Since a tea practitioner must be familiar with the production and types of tea, with kimono, calligraphy, flower arranging, ceramics, incense and a wide range of other disciplines and traditional arts in addition to his or her school's tea practices, the study of tea ceremony takes many years and often lasts a lifetime. Even to participate as a guest in a formal tea ceremony requires knowledge of the prescribed gestures and phrases expected of guests, the proper way to take tea and sweets, and general deportment in the tea room.

The actual tea ceremony is quite elaborate, and you do not need expensive vessles, but there are some quite beautiful sets available for a modest price.

Another set

Some nice tea cups

Another pretty cup

Enjoy your cup of tea

Thank you yoko for sharing these beautiful images with us, as well as the story.

Here is another Japanese teaset to add to the collection

Now let us sit in the garden and enjoy our tea

Thank you for the nice images.

I think I should explain a bit more about the ritual and implements used in a tea ceremony.

The host whisks or blends tea with hot water in a teabowl and passes it to the guest. In the case of koicha, thick tea, the guests drink from the same bowl.

All the 8 imagews and text are from the following website

http://web-japan.org/factsheet/tea/tea_c.html

From left to right: a linen cloth for wiping the bowl, a scoop for the powdered tea and a whisk.

For koicha, the tea-powder container is ceramic; for usucha, thin tea, it is lacquerware.

The kettle, or kama, is brought to a boil over a charcoal fire; kama vary widely in shape.

The scuttle contains charcoal to build a fire in either brazier or hearth, depending on the season.

The haiire contains damp ash for adding to the hearth. Sprinkling cool, damp ash around the edges of the burning charcoal helps the fire to grow.

Water used to warm or rinse the teabowl is poured out into a ceramic waste-water bowl (kensui).

A bamboo ladle is used to pour fresh or boiling water into the teabowl; it rests on a stand often made of bamboo.

The above 8 images and text from:

http://web-japan.org/factsheet/tea/tea_c.html

Thank you dear Yoko for sharing this information and pictures relating to the tea ceremony in Japan. It is very very interesting.
When everything is done with elegance and perfect know-how the pleasure doubles no doubt!

Thank you.

Love and joy.
Margherita

Thank you Inda and Margherita,

It is very nice to share a cup of tea with you.

Love,
yoko

Thank you yoko for this wonderful post. I had no idea that the tea ceremony was so involved.
I have enjoyed all the images as well.

Love,
sue

What a wonderfully informative post.
Thank you yoko.
I would love to take part in this beautiful tea ceremony.

Love
Vicky