As autumn deepens: The aesthetics of nakaoki and thoughtfulness in the tea ceremony

As autumn deepens, our lives gradually change in line with the changes in nature. For example, students change from summer to winter uniforms, and kimonos change from single-layer to double-layer. In this way, consideration for changes in the weather can be felt in everyday life. In the world of tea ceremony, too, changes in preparation and etiquette according to the season are important.

In October, a special tea ceremony called "nakaoki" is performed during tea ceremony practice. "Nakaoki" is a tea ceremony that takes place in the last month of the furo (furo) period, and the furo kettle, which is usually placed on the kattezuki (kitchen), is placed in the center of the tatami mat. This has a significance, as it is a thoughtful gesture to bring the fire as close as possible to the guests. As autumn deepens, the air gets cooler in the mornings and evenings, creating a strong contrast with the lingering heat of the day. In such circumstances, the nakaoki style is an expression of the way in which guests can feel warmth.

Even in everyday life, small gestures of consideration that correspond to the change of seasons can deepen connections with those around us. For example, when the weather gets cooler, we might offer a hot drink or ask in a shop, "Would you like a lap blanket?" Offering a lap blanket during colder seasons, and showing consideration to make the other person comfortable, is also an example of warm hospitality. Nakaoki in the tea ceremony is similar to these small everyday considerations. Thinking of guests and placing a small fire nearby so they can feel warmth is the very essence of the spirit of hospitality in the tea ceremony.

Nakaoki is a special tea ceremony that takes place only in October, the final month of the furo season. Furo are used from May to October, but ro training begins in November. This transition not only reflects the change of seasons, but is also an important element in the tea ceremony, conveying a sense of the passage of time. While a ro is made by placing charcoal in a square hole cut into the tatami mat and hanging the tea kettle on top, a furo places the kettle on the floor, so nakaoki is a symbolic tea ceremony that concludes the furo season.

The tea ceremony is a condensed world of Japanese culture, which sensitively responds to and cherishes the changing of the seasons and the flow of nature. The mindset of wholeheartedly entertaining guests while paying attention to the small changes felt in everyday life is deeply connected to the spirit of the tea ceremony.
This fall, why not take a look at the changes around you and try to be a little more considerate?