year 2009
Event	Date	Description
Hatsu Gama Sogah-an	1/31 (Saturday) 10:00 am to 2:pm Fee: $80	To begin the New Year's course of study, there is a formal event known as Hatsugama, literally the First Kettle. With everything fresh and new, Tea students renew their hopes for the year and their commitment to the practice of Tea and entrust these hopes to the implements specially chosen for this day. For Hatsugama, the Tokonoma is customarily decorated with camellia and coiled willow boughs. In ancient China, when one left on a journey, they were given a coiled willow branch as a prayer for their safe return. Adding the idea of the return of spring to this historical allusion, it became the custom to display coiled willow at this time. Likewise, the long willow bough displayed at Hatsugama symbolizes our prayer that the New Year just beginning will bring us happiness.
Rikyu Memorial Tea Place:Sogah-an	3/28 (Saturday) 11:00 am to 2:00 pm Fee: $60	Rikyu died on February 28 in the 19th year of the Tensho era. March 27 in the modern calendar is the day on which the Head of the Sen Family memorializes the anniversary of his death and prays for the repose of his spirit. Just as Hideyoshi unified the warring country, Sen no Rikyuﾕs tea came to dominate the world of tea in his age, so that today all tea is descended from Rikyu. And so at this time, regardless of the School of Tea, it seems natural to offer up a bowl of tea and revisit oneﾕs spiritual home. The Tea Room is arranged differently than it normally is. In the Tokonoma, beneath a scroll commemorating Rikyu, yellow mustard flower, a kind of white magnolia and a bowl of tea are displayed as special offerings to the spirit of this great proponent of Tea.Mustard flowers are used at the Rikyu memorial because Rikyu favored them and is reported to have used them at his last Chanoyu. It is customary to arrange them in a copy of traditional bronze vase and to offer them before the image of Rikyu.To accompany the Memorial, one often asks guests to assist in arranging flowers (Mawaribana) or to enjoy a blind tea tasting (Chakabuki).
Rikyu Memorial Tea Place:Sogah-an	9/12 (Saturday) 11:00 am to 2:00 pm Fee: $60	Tennen is the Buddhist name of the Seventh Generation Head of the Family, Joshinsai Sosa who led the restoration of Omotesenkeﾕs fortunes. And each year in the fall, on the anniversary of the death of Joshinsai, a Memorial Ceremony is held by Head of the Family. During the period from the Genroku to the Kyoho Eras (1688-1735), the tea world faced great changes.It is to recognize Joshinsaiﾕs role during that age in finalizing the shape of Hiroma (large room) tea and laying the foundations of present practice that a bowl of tea and flowers are offered to his spirit.
End of the Year Tea Place:Sogah-an	10/10 (Saturday) 10:00am to 2:00 pm Fee: $100	The Farewell Tea is so called because we are reluctant to bid farewell to the few tea leaves from the prior year remaining in the storage container. At this Tea, we recall the tea events of the past year and celebrate the automn of the year. The implements chosen for this Tea Gathering emphasize the ﾒwabiﾓ style of simplicity and restraint. The kaiseki meal served at this Tea is also to be plain and simple.
The Last Tea Place:Sogah-an	12/12 (Saturday) 10:00 am to 2:00 pm Fee: $80	At our "December Kettle," we have our last practice of the year, give thanks for the bonds we have formed in the group during the year, and rejoice that we have successfully completed another year! Amid thoughts about the passage from Old to New Year, we share a quiet bowl of Tea together.

The first practice session of 2009 is on February 4 (Wednesday). If you would like to participate, please call (212-581-2855) or email (msohgakoike@yahoo.co.jp).

Contact Sohga-an, Koike Sohga 347 West 57th Street Suite 15 C New York, NY 10019 Tel：212-581-2855 Fax：212-459-0460 E-mail：msohgakoike@yahoo.co.jp