A Honeymoon in Japan: Blending Cultures and Tea
Thao said with a big smile, “We’re on our honeymoon in Japan!” I was so happy Thao and her husband, Thomas chose Japan for this special occasion. And I’m grateful they chose Komurasaki An for the tea ceremony experience. Thao is Vietnamese and Thomas is French. “Where do you live now?” I asked. Thao began to tell me, “In Paris. I went to Paris from Vietnam 10 years ago to study fashion and design, and that’s where I met Thomas. We got married a year later, but then the pandemic hit and our honeymoon was postponed. And now, after a long wait, our honeymoon has finally come true.” Thomas listened to her and seemed to be reminiscing about those days.
I told Thao and Thomas, “Naoko and I have been married for 40 years!” They were both amazed. Thinking they’d be even more impressed, I added, “And we’ve never argued once!” Thomas’s expression turned serious as he replied, “Neither have we.”There’s a Japanese saying, ‘The more you fight, the closer you are.’ It suggests that couples who argue openly are actually closer because they’re honest with each other. Personally, though, I think it’s better to avoid arguments altogether. While honesty is important, it’s equally important to consider your partner’s feelings. With that mindset, I believe disagreements can be avoided.
It seems like Thao and Thomas both became big fans of the matcha. Thao was so keen on it that she asked if I knew where she could buy a matcha set to continue practicing tea ceremony in Paris. I couldn’t help but hope that more people around the world would discover the joy of matcha, find tranquility in the process of preparing it, and feel a sense of peace.
Dear Thao and Thomas,
Thank you so much for participating in the Komurasaki An tea ceremony workshop during your honeymoon. After the workshop, we had a wonderful time chatting. We talked about so many things: climbing Mount Fuji, Japanese anime, Japanese shops and neighborhoods in Paris, Christianity, Christmas, and more. It was truly enjoyable.
I hope you will cherish the wonderful memories of your honeymoon and the strong bond between you.
Please visit Komurasaki An again when you come back to Japan. I look forward to chatting with you more. Until then, please take care and have a safe journey.
Sincerely,
Aki & Naoko at Komurasaki An
