Instructors

If you are interested in studying Japanese Tea Ceremony, we would love to have you! Please send us a message via the Contact link, and we will get back to you as soon as we can. Our instructors’ information can be found below.

Masumi Suomi (宗美) Koster
Kyoju (Professor)

  • Lesson Days: First three Saturdays of the month. Other days on request.
  • Student Level: Any level accepted. Beginners welcome.
  • Location: Erie, Colorado
  • Language: 日本語, English
  • Contact: [email protected], 281-216-4451

Dario Aranguiz
Sei-hikitsugi (3rd-degree Instructor)

  • Lesson Days: Three Saturdays per month.
  • Student Level: Any level accepted. Beginners welcome.
  • Location: Lafayette, Colorado
  • Language: English
  • Contact: Click here

Anh Pham
Sei-hikitsugi (3rd-degree Instructor)

  • Lesson Days: Three Tuesdays and Sundays per month.
  • Student Level: Any level accepted. Beginners welcome.
  • Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • Language: English
  • Contact: Click here

How do lessons work?

Tea lessons are traditionally held in a “one-room schoolhouse” style, where one student goes through a procedure at a time. Other students have the opportunity to sit as a guest, or simply observe as a non-participant. Tea and sweets are always served to those in attendance.

While much of Chado is about learning various tea-making procedures, it is equally (or more!) important to learn how to be a good guest. We have many more opportunities to be a guest in life than to be a host, so emphasis is placed on learning proper guest etiquette during lessons.

A lesson for a single procedure usually takes about one hour.

What should I bring to my first lesson?

If you are reading this, you may be considering coming for a lesson. We are excited to have you!

For your very first lesson, we ask that you please wear smart casual clothes that will allow you to sit comfortably on the floor. Slacks and stretchy chino pants work well, as do skirts and dresses that cover your legs. Please bring a pair of clean white socks to change into once you arrive, and avoid ornamentation such as watches, jewelry, etc.

For subsequent lessons, there is a small amount of personal required equipment that you will need to bring. This includes items such as:

  • Fukusa, the silk purifying cloth
  • Kaishi, the paper used for eating sweets
  • Sensu, the fan used as a guest

We have a limited number of these items available which you may borrow until you purchase your own.