I was used to Yukako’s crisp waterbird motions, the way her long body took all the space it needed on the host’s mat. But I saw the Mountain make tea only when the whole household gathered for holidays, his temae quiet as spilt water spreading on a wood floor, natural as Chio cooking rice. Not effortless like sleeping, but effortless like walking, both awkwardness and fanfare long forgotten. How beautiful, to see something done simply and well.
