NLCS Kobe recently held its annual “Final Tea Ceremony” at the Tekisui Museum, an event attended by students across all year groups. It was a profoundly special occasion where students took turns whisking and serving matcha for one another, fully immersing themselves in Japanese traditional culture.
The tea room was graced with beautiful nerikiri (wagashi sweets) shaped like hydrangeas, designed entirely by our Grade 6 students. Just as each small petal has its own unique color and shape yet comes together to create a magnificent flower, these sweets perfectly symbolized the vibrant diversity and unity of our NLCS Kobe student body.
The Beauty of Imperfection: Shoji Light and Japanese Aesthetics
Long ago, when the art of tea first began, electric lights did not exist. For this ceremony, the lights were turned off, allowing students to experience the tea room using only the soft, natural light filtering through the shoji (paper screens).
In the gentle dimness, the faint red glow of the charcoal and the delicate gold and silver patterns on the fusuma sliding doors came alive. The flower arranged in the tokonoma (alcove) presented a striking contrast: under modern ceiling lights, it would be illuminated uniformly from above, but the horizontal light from the shoji lit up only the left half of the flower, leaving the right half in shadow. This captures the essence of “the beauty of imperfection”—a core pillar of timeless Japanese aesthetics.
Three Masterpieces and Special Messages for Our Students
With the generous support of the Tekisui Museum, three exquisite artifacts were displayed in the tea room, each carrying an inspiring message to cheer on our students’ futures.
Hanging Scroll: “A Single Flower Opens into Five Petals” (Calligraphy by Gōgetsu Sōgan / Painting by Shōkadō Shōjō) This scroll features a Zen phrase meaning, “When one beautiful flower blooms, it opens into five petals, and in time, it naturally bears wonderful fruit”. NLCS, which started as a single flower in London, has now spread its petals to five locations worldwide: Jeju, Dubai, Singapore, Hong Kong, and here in Kobe. It represents our warm wish that our students will grow their unique talents and bear “wonderful fruit” alongside their global peers.
Flower Vase: Celadon Vase with Phoenix-Shaped Handles (Southern Song Dynasty, China)
This rare vase is famous for its flawless, blue-green glaze that resembles clear ocean water. Its handles are modeled after the mythical Phoenix, a bird known for flying higher than any other. It was displayed with the hope that our students, connected to the wide world through NLCS, will confidently spread their strong wings and fly out into the global community.
Incense Box: Carved Black Lacquer Incense Box featuring Laozi (Ming Dynasty, China / Signed by Zhang Cheng) Crafted using an incredible technique of layering red and black lacquer and carving into the surface, this box depicts the ancient philosopher Laozi peacefully riding an ox. Reflecting Laozi’s great wisdom, the box carries a message encouraging our students to cherish curiosity, enjoy asking “Why?” and “How?”, and grow into kind-hearted, thoughtful adults on their great adventure of learning.
By experiencing the interplay of light and shadow in this traditional setting and reflecting on the wisdom within these historic artifacts, our students have gained a deeper connection to Japanese culture—an invaluable anchor as they prepare to take flight as global citizens.
