The Book of Ichigo Ichie: The Art of Making the Most of Every Moment, the Japanese Way

by Héctor García

THE TIME IS NOW Each tea ceremony should be treated with great attention because it is ichigo ichie, which is to say, a unique encounter in time. Even though the host and guests may see each other daily, the gathering can never be exactly repeated. If we consider the extraordinary nature of every moment, we realize that each encounter is a once- in-a-lifetime occasion. The host should thus show true sincerity and take the greatest care with every detail, to make sure that everything flows smoothly and without a hitch. The guests for their part must understand that the encounter will never occur again, and so they must appreciate every detail of the ceremony prepared by the host and, of course, participate wholeheartedly. All this is what is meant by the expression “ichigo ichie.” —Ii Naosuke, “Great Elder” of the Tokugawa Shogunate, in Chanoyu ichi-e shu (1858)