| Kuchikiri no Gi ceremony / Oct. 3 |
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| - Kuradashi Tea |
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| Seasonal Topics & Items |
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| Dear Sir and Madam, |
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| We at Hibiki-an THANK YOU VERY MUCH for your continued patronage and support.
We are pleased to offer useful information for your healthy life and continued
enjoyment of Japanese green tea. In this issue, we talk about 'Kuchikiri
no Gi ceremony / Oct. 3 (Kuradashi Tea)'. |
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Kuchikiri no Gi ceremony / Oct. 3 (Kuradashi Tea)
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Though today some Gyokuro lovers enjoy newly harvested Gyokuro, it is the traditional wisdom that Matcha and Gyokuro generally gain an enriched flavor and sweetness over time, and are best some months after harvest.
In the Japanese tea ceremony, even today people celebrate aged Matcha in the ceremony called Kuchikiri no Gi every autumn. Kuchikiri no Gi means the ceremony of opening a special jar of tea. Matcha and Gyokuro used to be placed in a tea jar. This tea jar was then sealed and stored in a cool place like the top of a high mountain or in the ground after harvest until autumn. People would first enjoy that year's Matcha and Gyokuro in the autumn after the Kuchikiri no Gi ceremony. And it was said that when the jar lid first opened in autumn, the marvelous fragrant smell was savored. It was said that the smell was so amazing that there were no words to describe it, and it had to be experienced firsthand.
Today the Kuchikiri no Gi ceremony is still held by the local tea industry and a school of Teaism at Kohshoh Temple in Uji on the first Sunday of October every year in order to honor the forerunners who contributed to developing Japanese tea culture.
The ceremony is thus followed:
- Water is gathered by ladle from the river at Uji Bridge in the way of Hideyoshi Toyotomi, kanpaku (powerful ruler) in Japan, who supported Rikyu Sen to indurate Teaism. He always used the water from Uji Bridge every day in order to prepare his Matcha. The water gathering is called Kumiage no Gi drawing water ceremony.
- The water is solemnly and mindfully carried to Kohshoh Temple.
- The tea jar which was filled with tea leaves and sealed in the harvest season is opened according to traditional procedure.
- Matcha is prepared by the present head of the school of Teaism.
- A bowl of Matcha is offered before the tablet of the ancestors who contributed to developing Japanese tea culture.
- Buddhist rite for used tea whisks is held after the Kuchikiri no Gi ceremony.
(The ceremony this year was drastically reduced due to the COVID-19 issue, yet it was solemnly held. The below pictures were taken in past years.)
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| Hauling water out from the Uji river at the Uji bridge |
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| Carrying the water from the Uji river to Kohshoh temple |
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| The ceremony has just started. |
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| Opening the tea jar |
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| The jar is filled with Tencha tea leaves and higher grade Tencha leaves are packed in WASHI Japanese traditional paper. |
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| Grinding tencha into matcha |
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| Traditional stone mill turned by hand, and matcha just after ground. The matcha is quite beautiful and bright green color. |
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| Offering the matcha before the tablet of the ancestors |
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| Natsume, which is used to put Matcha |
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| Traditional stone mill after the ceremony |
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| Traditional jar used for the ceremony |
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| Kohshoh Temple |
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| Used chasen to the flames to show their gratitude |
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At last Kuradashi Tea is Now Available! |
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At last Kuradashi Gyokuro is now available! The Kuchikiri no Gi ceremony
was solemnly and mindfully held at Kosho Temple in Uji and people celebrated
Kuradashi Tea on October 3.
At this time, our Kuradashi Tea which has been stored for over a year was taken out from the granary. We have arranged three limited edition Kuradashi Gyokuro teas and one Kuradashi Sencha, as described below. They are limited edition of 850 packages each ONLY AVAILABLE this autumn season.
Celebrate Kuradashi Tea and enjoy the remarkable enriched flavor and sweetness which can only be experienced once every year! We are certain that the fine enriched flavor and sweetness will captivate you. |
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[Limited] Kuradashi Gyokuro Super Premium (40g/1.41oz): US$24.00
(Now Available: limited edition of 850 packages ONLY AVAILABLE this autumn season)
Kuradashi Gyokuro is different from ordinary Gyokuro in aroma and flavor. The superb enriched and sweetened flavor and aroma lingers in the mouth for a while. The aroma is full, but not too strong. The flavor is rich and subtle. The taste is both mellow and enhanced... |
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[Limited] Kuradashi Gyokuro Premium (80g/2.82oz): US$27.00
(Now Available: limited edition of 850 packages ONLY AVAILABLE this autumn season)
All Gyokuro does not gain an enriched flavor but only specific kinds of Gyokuro. It depends on some factors. We have enriched this highest grade of trimmed Gyokuro for one and a half years... |
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[Limited] Kuradashi Gyokuro Pinnacle (40g/1.41oz): US$35.00
(Now Available: limited edition of 850 packages ONLY AVAILABLE this autumn season)
Tea leaves for this special tea grow in the Ogura area in the Uji region, which is known as one of the foremost production centers of the highest grade of enriched Gyokuro. The Ogura area was the area in where Gyokuro and Matcha were firstly grown... |
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[Limited] Kuradashi Sencha (80g/2.82oz): US$24.00
(Now Available: limited edition of 850 packages ONLY AVAILABLE this autumn season)
Long time ago the quality and good conditioned Sencha in Autumn season must have been similar in taste and aroma to this fine Kuradashi Sencha. And that time, only few people could enjoy the excellent flavour... |
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| Are you enjoying your green moments? Hibiki-an encourages those who love to drink green tea. If you have any requests or questions regarding our teas or services, please don't hesitate to contact us. We sincerely hope that you enjoy genuine Hibiki-an Japanese green tea direct to you from Kyoto, Japan. |
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| Sincerely yours, |
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| Atsushi Yasui |
Seasonal Topics & Items
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[Limited] Snacks and Candy (Autumn) |
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We at Hibiki-an added eight Japanese modern confectioneries which are all
only available in autumn. Our carefully selected items for autumn confections
amuse our mouth very much, and perfectly match with Japanese green tea.
MOCHI and FUKIYOSE are unique texture, traditonal and modern snacks are so
crispy. Glace also provide their original flavor.
We are certain that they will all completely please your taste bud. Please take a look! |
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| Japanese Snacks / Candy Shopping category: click here |
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[New & Limited] Yunomi and Tea Accessories (Autumn and Winter) |
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| We have arranged for 22 limited edition tea ware item which are all limited edition only
available this autumn and winter season. They are all designed with modern,
sophisticated style, while others use traditional techniques for a more
traditional design. They will all expand in application depending on your
idea. Please take a look. |
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Tea Set |
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Yunomi - Large / Multi-cup |
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Yunomi - Traditional Style |
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| Teapots / Cups shopping category: click here |
| Matcha Bowls / Accessories shopping category: click here |
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Sophisticated Matcha Bowls of Eizan Kiln: Now Available |
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| Mr. Eizan produces a wide variety of sophisticated and modern Matcha bowls while strictly adhering to traditional techniques. He has a perfect command of glaze, forming and firing by his outstanding skill and unique experience since he has been creating a wide range of traditional Matcha bowls. His diverse works are beyond the everyday norms. Such a potter as Mr. Eizan is very rare and special. |
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[Limited] RENZAN (handcrafted Matcha Bowl): US$495.00
Thin black glaze was applied from the KOHDAI (foot) to the hip, and thick black glaze was applied around the middle. Mr. Eizan painted white glaze at the upper part, thickly. The flow and degree of mixture and the contrast of the glazes are quite interesting... |
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[Limited] NINSEI KAKEKIRI - NAMISHIBUKI (handcrafted): US$312.00
The form of this Matcha bowl is a motif of NINSEI GARATSU which Ninsei Nonomura arranged Karatsu-Yaki as a Kyoto style. The upper part of the Matcha bowl features a circle line, known as ROKUROME, which is the trace of fingers or the paddle that the craftsman uses during wheel-forming... |
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[Limited] SEIKAIHA MON (handcrafted Matcha Bowl): US$184.00
Five SEIKAIHA MON are stamped at the front part of this Matcha bowl. It’s interesting to note that each stamp (INKA) looks three-dimensional. The hip is shaved to express waves and it also tightens the form of this Matcha bowl. The lip is little flared, which feels soft against one's mouth... |
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[Limited] GOKI MISHIMA (handcrafted Matcha Bowl): US$112.00
This Matcha bowl is created by a traditional technique called MISHIMADE. Before the shaped clay is dried, patterns are marked by stamp stick carved with flowers or another similar design. Two kinds of INKA stamps are used on this Matcha bowl... |
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| ANAGAMA Pottery - Matcha Bowl shopping category: click here |
| Sophisticated Matcha Bowls of Eizan Kiln page: click here |
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(Notice 1) Now Shipping to Most Countries (COVID-19 issue)
As shown in the below chart, at last, we are now able to ship to most countries, though the situation is still not fully back to normal.
Orders bound for a few countries (the US, etc.) still can be temporarily accepted only with DHL Express International NOT Standard International.
We are still temporarily unable to ship to some countries, such as
Russia, India etc. And deliveries can be delayed due to each country's
situation. (more info, click here)
We strongly recommend that you choose the Express International Delivery option, which is fast and trackable. Or you may wish to order after the COVID-19 crisis calms down and conditions return to normal...
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Latest Flight Status (as of Jul 26th)
- 'o': Almost normal delivery time, though there are some delays.
- '-': Significantly delayed, though flights are not stopped.
- 'x': Stopped flights
| Flights (bound for) | Express
International
(Postal) | Standard
International
(Postal) | DHL Express
International |
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| United States | x | x | o |
| Canada | x | - | o |
| Australia | x | - | o |
| United Kingdom | o | - | |
| Switzerland | o | - | |
| Italy | o | - | |
| Germany | o | - | |
| Singapore | o | - | |
| France | o | - | |
| Spain | o | - | |
| Norway | o | - | |
| New Zealand | o | - | |
| Israel | x | x | o |
| Russia | x | x | |
| Netherlands | o | - | |
| Hong Kong | o | - | |
| Sweden | o | - | |
| Denmark | o | - | |
| Belgium | o | - | |
| Czechia | o | - | |
| UAE | x | x | o |
| Finland | o | o | |
| Austria | o | - | |
| Thailand | o | - | |
| Hungary | o | - | |
| Ireland | o | o | |
| Bulgaria | o | - | |
| Ukraine | o | o | |
| India | x | x | |
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| Flights (bound for) | Express
International
(Postal) | Standard
International
(Postal) | DHL Express
International |
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| Romania | x | x | |
| Brazil | x | x | |
| Croatia | o | - | |
| Indonesia | o | - | |
| Lithuania | o | - | |
| Poland | o | - | |
| Slovakia | o | - | |
| Malaysia | o | - | |
| Mexico | o | - | |
| Philippines | o | - | |
| Iceland | o | - | |
| Turkey | o | - | |
| Latvia | o | - | |
| Serbia | o | - | |
| Saudi Arabia | x | x | |
| Taiwan | o | - | |
| Lebanon | o | - | |
| Luxembourg | o | - | |
| Vietnam | o | - | |
| South Africa | o | - | |
| Ecuador | o | - | |
| Qatar | o | - | |
| Cambodia | x | x | |
| Portugal | o | - | |
| Kazakhstan | o | - | |
| Belarus | o | - | |
| Estonia | o | - | |
| Slovenia | o | - | |
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