okeikodialogue

urasenke
foundation
seattle branch

OKEIKO DIALOGUE

Transmitting
the living art of Chado,
the Way of Tea,
to affirm our common humanity through harmony, respect, purity and tranquility.

Opening salutation (aisatsu), entire class:

"Ohayo gozaimasu [morning] (OR “Konnichi wa [daytime],” “Konban wa [evening]”) Okeiko yoroshiku onegai itashimasu." (Teacher, please instruct us)

Closing salutation (aisatsu), entire class:

"Sensei, okeiko domo arigato gozaimashita." (Thank you for the lesson)

Taking the role of host:

Requesting instruction from the teacher :

"Sensei, Ryakubon-temae [OR Usucha Hirademae, Koicha Hirademae, etc.] okeiko onegai itashimasu." (Please teach me Ryakubon [or whatever] temae)

Requesting a classmate be your guest:

"Okyakusama onegai itashimasu." (Please be my guest(s))

Inviting the guest to take a sweet:

"Okashi o dozo." (Please help yourself to a sweet)

Responding to the guest's request to close :

"Oshimai itashimasu." (I will close in accordance with your request)

Thanking the teacher for your lesson:

Sensei, ____[insert name of temae] temae okeiko domo arigato gozaimashita." (Thank you for the ____temae lesson)

Thanking the guests:

"Okyakusama domo arigato gozaimashita." (Thanks for being my guest(s))

Taking the role of guest:

To the host, after being invited to be the guest:

"Yoroshiku onegai itashimasu."

To the teacher before being invited to be the guest by the host:

"Sensei, okyaku okeiko yoroshiku onegai itashimasu." (Please do me the favor--i.e. of instructing me)

When the host invites you to take your sweet:

"[Okashi] chodai itashimasu." (I will partake of this sweet)

When you bring the bowl back to your place:

If there is a guest to your right (who has already drunk tea):

"Oshoban itashimasu." (May I join you?)

If there is a guest to your left:

"Osakini." (Excuse me for going first)

To the host:

"Otemae chodai itashimasu." (I will partake of your temae-- i.e., the tea and its preparation)

To stop the host from making more tea (spoken as the host empties the rinse water into the kensui):

"Oshimai kudasai." (Please conclude)

study

branch classes

okeiko guidelines

poems

urasenke curriculum