A Heartwarming Tea Ceremony Experience with the Shikhar Family: Memories of Nara and a Daughter’s Growth
The Shikhar family made a reservation at Komurasaki An in early May. He had listed Tokyo, Osaka, Nikko, Disney Sea Kyoto, Nara, and Himeji as possible places to visit.
I especially recommended Nara to him with the following email and attached photos:
Nara is our favorite place to visit. Whenever we go there, we are greeted by adorable deer bowing to us. The first time we saw the Great Buddha inside Todai-ji Temple, we were in awe of its size. The attached photos were taken five years ago, but they bring back fond memories.
In response, Shikhar sent me the following email with a photo of his daughter Ishani:
These are some really nice pictures. We have planned to go to Nara later that week (on 14th June, i.e. also my birthday 🙂 ). When we were living in the UK our home was right next to a huge park full of Deers (it’s called Bushy Park). And when I read about Nara it reminded me of our time there. This photo is my daughter when she was 3.5 yrs old.
The Shikhar family visited Komurasaki An on June 11th. Little Ishani, who was once a small and adorable 3.5-year-old girl, had grown into a lovely 12-year-old young lady. When I asked her “Is your school fun?”, she nodded her head and smiled brightly.
Naoko and I were both a little nervous at the beginning, but Suhani’s friendly demeanor and thoughtful questions helped to put us at ease. She created a warm and welcoming atmosphere that made it easy for us to conduct the workshop smoothly.
I was also particularly struck by Shikhar’s attentiveness to his wife and daughter. He watched them with such love and pride, and it was clear that they had a very special bond. It was heartwarming to see such a supportive and loving family.
Naoko and I don’t have children of our own, but we were both moved by the sight of Shikhar and his family. It reminded us of the importance of family and the joy of watching loved ones grow and learn. We left the workshop feeling inspired and hopeful for the future.
Ishani has kindly shared her thoughts below.
I want to share my experience about the tea ceremony. I’d like to start with how kind and compassionate Aki-san and Naoko-san were. They treat everyone like family and always go the extra mile. The tea ceremony started with matcha tea grinding. Stone mills were used to ground matcha leaves into a fine powder. Then we went to their beautiful garden. The garden was so serene and peaceful. We washed our hands in a beautiful stone basin and moved on to the tea room.
The tea room had wonderful tatami mats and an extra cosy feel. Aki-san and Naoko-san explained the process of the tea ceremony and answered every question patiently. Post the tea ceremony they invited us inside to their beautiful living room. They even went lenghths to celebrate my father’s birthday and add a personal touch to everything. If someone really wants to experience the tea ceremony they should visit Aki-san and Naoko-san’s home.
Naoko and I are both very happy with Ishani’s words.
The two hours spent with Shikhar’s family felt like a fleeting moment. Over a cup of tea, I felt a connection with them that transcended words. As they were about to leave, Suhani asked if she could gently touch my ankles and Naoko’s. I was unsure of the reason, but I agreed. Suhani then brought her palms together, bowed slightly, and touched our ankles, saying “Thank you.”
Later, I learned that this gesture is called “pranama,” a traditional Indian salutation used to express gratitude. It was a beautiful gesture that I had never encountered before, and it left a deep impression on me. I was not only touched by this unique tradition but also deeply grateful for the meaningful connection we had formed during the workshop.
