The junior high school pupils from the JFA Academy Fukushima Women joined a tea ceremony lesson held by Kobori Yuko, the instructor of the Enshu Sado School, on 28 June.
In their first lesson, the students started to learn how to hold and drink from a tea bowl, followed by an experience of a real tea ceremony, where they enjoyed some tea.
They struggled to stay kneeling, which was an unfamiliar position for them, but enjoyed the Japanese traditional culture of tea and learned about the spirit of hospitality.

Comments From Instructor

KOBORI Yuko, Enshu Sado School
I held the tea ceremony lesson for the future Nadeshiko players, so that they could learn about ‘Sado (tea ceremony)’, one of the pinnacles of Japanese culture, and would play confidently as a representative of Japan in the world. What really struck me today were their expressions and postures changed beautifully while they were siting on the tatami (straw mat), when I said: ‘use core muscles when you sit on your knees’. I thought they were definitely athletes. I can’t forget their happy faces when they first tried matcha (green powdered tea). We always look at Nadeshiko with longing eyes. I do hope I could do something for the future Nadeshiko today.

Comments From Players

ISERI Natsuki（7th Class, 3rd year junior high school）
It was my first tea ceremony. First I thought it was nothing to do with the football, but as I learned I found that thinking about others was very important in a tea ceremony. It’s good to try new things and find something meaningful for me, even though it may seem to have nothing to do with me.

ENDO Jun （8th Class, 2nd year junior high school）
I felt nervous, because it was my first experience of a tea ceremony and I found everything there was so new for me. I had pins and needles in my legs after 20 minutes of kneeling. I couldn’t get used to sitting in that position and felt nervous as well. I saw Japanese traditions there, such as the instructor’s Kimono and sitting on the tatami.

TOMIOKA Chihiro（9th Class, 1st year junior high school）
I was really looking forward to this, as it was my first time to experience a tea ceremony. There were much more rules than I expected, which surprised me. Although the matcha was a little bitter, I enjoyed it. It was a great experience.

*Please see details about the JFA Academy on the website of the JFA Academy Fukushima.