Bob Bruno ”If anyone is looking for a fun, interesting, and relaxing thing to do, take this class offered by Yufuko Kurioka and David Galbraith. Making and drinking tea in the Japanese Tea Ceremony manner is a wonderful and enlightening experience. And it's a fun thing for a family, too.”
The Japanese tea ceremony is a 500-year-old practice concerned with the cultivation of focus, respect and mindfulness. The purpose of No-gate Tea is to bring this practice to a general audience in a relaxed manner.


Upcoming workshops and classes​ in August & September

09/15/18 (Sat.) 2:00 - 3:30p.m. in Albany
THE JAPANESE TEA CEREMONY FOR THE FAMILY in the Gallery

08/22/18 (Wed) 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. in Berkeley
The Japanese Way of Tea & putting kimono on workshop

09/05/18 (Wed) 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. in Berkeley
Discovering The Japanese Way of Tea; continuation practice
​
09/8/18 (Sat.) 1:30 - 4:30p.m. in Moraga (+ optional glazing session 09/23, Sun. in Berkeley)
Making a bowl of tea to making a tea bowl; make your won tea bowl!

09/12/18 (Wed) 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. in Berkeley
The Japanese Way of Tea & putting kimono on workshop

09/22/18 (Sat.) 3:00 - 4:30p.m. in Moraga
Discovering The Japanese Way of Tea Course Week 1

09/29/18 (Sat.) 3:00 - 4:30p.m. in Moraga
Discovering The Japanese Way of Tea Course Week 2


To see the details, please scroll down.  
information updated on August 18, 2018

 THE JAPANESE TEA CEREMONY FOR THE FAMILY
​at the Abrams Claghorn Gallery
on September 15 (Saturday)
from 2:00 -3:30p.m.

Making a bowl of tea to making a tea bowl; make your won tea bowl!
Schedule:
11:00 a.m. -- Appreciation of tea bowls: presentation and discussion
11: 15 a.m. -- Making the first tea bowl by technique 1
12:15 p.m. -- lunch brake (Potluck lunch. Please bring foods to share)
1:00 p.m. -- The Japanese Way of Tea basics workshop
2:00 p.m. -- Making the second tea bowl by technique 2
You will be making two tea bowls by using two different hand-build techniques.
We will discuss aesthetics of Japanese tea bowls through photo presentation and learning a brief history about development of tea bowls for the ceremony in Japan. Making a tea bowl workshop is taught by James Whiting.

Questions and sign-up please contact Yufuko at <nogatetea@gmail.com>
This workshop is limited to 10 participants
Cost: $65/person, $95/guardian+child (under12)
Included:
- 2 workshops of making tea bowl (You will learn 2 techniques)
- 2 tea bowls (glazing instruction will be given on 9/23, Sunday afternoon at the Potters' Studio in Berkeley. If you can't make it, we will do the glazing for you!)
- Aesthetics of tea bowls presentation and the Japanese Tea Ceremony workshop
About James: James Whiting is a ceramics artist, teacher and photographer living in the San Francisco Bay Area. He lived in Japan for many years and his passion for ceramics developed there; the Japanese aesthetic has greatly influenced his work.
<http://www.jameswhitingceramics.com>
maximum enrollment: 8.
minimum enrollment: 5.
cost: $150/ course  
a starter kit: $40-50 (optional)
Questions and sign-up, please contact Yufuko at <nogatetea@gmail.com>

Discovering the Japanese Way of Tea Level 1
Fall Six weeks course 
Starting on September 22 (Sat.)
​in Moraga
3:00 -4:30p.m. (may ends 5:00p.m. depending on the topic)
This unique six-week course consists of lectures and workshops in 
​the Japanese Way of Tea.
 
​The lectures will provide participants with a background in the history, culture, refinement and tradition of the classical Japanese tea ceremony. 
Each week you will learn new steps in the choreography of tea ceremony so that the end of the course you can perform a simple tea ceremony at home.
 
This class is offered in English and Japanese.
​クラスは日本語と英語のバイリンガルです。
​​
Location: BDK America Moraga Office
​Address: 1675 School Street - Moraga, CA
​(925) 388-0067 (BDK America office hours 10:00 - 5:00, M-F)
​
Putting kimono on workshop
-- Learning how to ware kimono

The workshop will begin with help you through the steps of putting on your kimono. Please bring your own kimono to participate in this fun practice! 
When we are dressed in kimono, demonstration of tea service will begins.
​By acting out of the choreography of Tea Ceremony (where the participants play the role of guests), you will be cultivating focus, respect and mindfulness. 
The Way of Tea acts these values out in a pleasant drama in which you are one of the actors. 

This workshop is open to everyone. No experience is needed.
The class will be taught in Japanese and English.​
クラスはバイリンガルですので、日本語でもお問い合わせください。​
To register, contact Yufuko Kurioka at <nogatetea@gmail.com> 
Fee for the workshop: $20/person. 
6 participants maximum.
​

​workshop schedule on May and June 2018
in Moraga
TBA
​​Address: 1675 School Street - Moraga, CA
Questions and sign-up, please contact Yufuko at <nogatetea@gmail.com>
in Berkeley 
08/22/18 (Wed) 1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
9/12/18 (Wed) 1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
​Address:​ 2620 Warring St. Berkeley, CA​
'Making a bowl of Tea' workshop ​for the family!

This workshop in the Japanese Way of Tea cultivates the principles of appreciation and respect in personal relations, such as child-parent, couples, or friends. 
This short version of the workshop will review the basic practice of serving and being served in the Japanese Way of Tea setting. We will begin with a demonstration of tea service where the participants play the role of guests. Then one person of each group will make tea for the partner/ other family members, following step-by- step instruction of the sensei.
No age requirements. No experience is needed.

The class will be taught in Japanese and English.​
クラスはバイリンガルですので、日本語でもお問い合わせください。
Dates & Location:
in Moraga: TBA 
    Address: 1675 School Street Moraga, CA 94556

in Berkeley: TBA
    Adress: 2620 Warring St. Berkeley, CA.

​Tuition & fees: 
$45 for two/ +$20 for additional family members  
Limited to 8 participants; Minimum enrollment 5
Questions and sign-up, please contact Yufuko at <nogatetea@gmail.com>
Send an email note that includes your family members name.

Making early autumn theme wagashi
&
the Japanese Way of Tea basics
​
Date & Time: TBA
Join our half-day workshop and learn
1. how to make beautiful 'Japanese Tea Sweets' and
​2. the basics of the Japanese Way of Tea!
​In the first part of the workshop, Manami (wagashi pâtissier) will lead you making moist Japanese style sweets known as omogashi for tea ceremony.
​Over the centuries the omogashi have become an important cultural element of the tea ceremony for their ability to express the theme of the get-together. You will learn about the Japanese early summer motifs and how to embody them into the shape of the sweet. You can make 2 or 3 sweets and take them home! ​
​
After a short break, we will conduct a casual tea ceremony in the No-Gate Tea style. You may be serving or may be served a bowl of tea and will learn how to perform your role in the Japanese Tea Ceremony. 
The purpose of No-gate Tea is to bring tea practice to a general audience in a relaxed manner. No experience is needed for making sweets nor for the tea ceremony. Please bring an apron, but all other materials are provided. The ceremony takes place on chairs and tables.
The workshop is limited to six participants.

Address: 1675 School Street, Moraga, CA 94556
Tuition: $ 50 (includes take-home sweets, tea ceremony)
For the questions and sign-up, please contact Yufuko at <nogatetea@gmail.com> or send a message through FaceBook <https://www.facebook.com/nogatetea/>.
The classes is offered as BDK America's local program and held at the BDK America office in Moraga.

Yoga of Tea Ceremony -'Making a bowl of Tea'
​for all levels

The workshop begins with a short presentation and demonstration of the Japanese Way of Tea. During the demonstration, under a guiding hand, you will be practicing a simplified manner of tea service. You will be learning how to be a guest.  
​And then, you will practice how to serve tea at a tea ceremony, following step-by- step instruction just like you will follow the instruction at a yoga class. 
​
This workshop is open to everyone. No experience is needed.
The class will be taught in Japanese and English.​
クラスはバイリンガルですので、日本語でもお問い合わせください。
To register, contact Yufuko Kurioka at <nogatetea@gmail.com> 
Fee for the workshop: $20/person. 
6 participants maximum.
​​
in Moraga
TBA
​Address: 1675 School Street - Moraga, CA
in Berkeley 
TBA
Address:​ 2620 Warring St. Berkeley, CA​
send us an e-mail!

Late summer retreat in Berkeley (Date: TBA)
Japanese Vegetarian Diet, Tea and Meditation
with Shinobeau (Wanowa) & Yufuko (No Gate Tea)

<schedule>
12:00 - 1:00 -- macrobiotic lunch & introduction to the Japanese tea ceremony
1:00 - 2:30 -- Japanese Tea ceremony and meditation
<Tuition>
$50 
To register, contact Yufuko Kurioka at <nogatetea@gmail.com> 
The classes is offered as BDK America's local program and held at the BDK America Moraga.

Macrobiotic Lunch

 Learn about Macrobiotic diet and taste Shinobeau's healthy lunch

Japanese Tea Ceremony

 Meditation

We will conclude the workshop with a short meditation. A proper diet will bring you a healing benefit to your body and mind. Tea will bring a balance to your body and calm your senses.
​Sit quietly, appreciate the moment, and make the half-day retreat experience as a whole!
Picture
About Shinobeau and Macrobiotic Diet
Shinobeau loves to experiment in her test kitchen daily to come up with ways to incorporate the age-old traditional Japanese and Eastern food wisdom into modern health-conscious eating in the West. Shinobeau hold certifications in Kushi Macrobiotics Foundation; Numerous Bakery/Desserts certifications from HomeMade Association.
The macrobiotic diet was first developed by a Japanese philosopher called George Ohsawa. He believed in a holistic approach to health incorporating many lifestyle aspects, from diet and exercise to meditation and even the ‘yin and yang’ energy of particular foods. Macrobiotics focuses on choosing organic, locally grown and seasonal produce.
more workshops coming up in the Fall!
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