2025 ANNUAL EVENTS

In 2025, the East-West Chanoyu Center (EWCC), with its permanent home at the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Washington (JCCCW), enjoyed a vibrant and productive year. Anchored at JCCCW while also hosting programs at various venues, EWCC offered a rich array of activities that showcased the depth and beauty of Chanoyu, the Japanese tea ceremony. These included interactive tea ceremonies, educational classes and workshops, free weekend tearoom tours, demonstrations at the Seattle Art Museum (SAM), presentations at SakuraCon, and more.

With the support of dedicated instructors and enthusiastic students, EWCC welcomed an estimated 1,044 guests and organized 114 public events (excluding regular classes). These accessible and engaging programs reached a broad audience, deepened community understanding of this vital cultural practice, and reflected the growing appreciation for Japanese tea culture in the Pacific Northwest.

We are deeply grateful for this milestone and look forward to continuing our mission in the years ahead.

CHANOYU CLASSES all levels, February to mid-December

Introductory Classes Saturdays 2:00PM-4:00PM

Continuing Classes Wednesdays 5:30PM-8:00PM; Fridays 12:00PM-3:00PM; Saturdays 10:00AM-4:00PM, and Sundays, 10:00AM-4:00PM

Shichijikishi (ensemble tea procedures) 2nd Sunday, 2:00PM-4:00PM

Okuden (advanced tea procedures) 4th Sunday, 2:00PM-4:00PM

KIMONO WORKSHOP dressing, wearing, and preserving. Must have own kimono, obi, and undergarments.

Fridays, 3:30-5:00PM, Spring and Fall. Fee $150 includes matcha; limited to four participants

MATCHA WORKSHOP (tasting, preparing, storing) 2nd Saturday, 2:00-3:00PM, February-November

PRIVATE TEA CEREMONIES Friday evenings by reservation February-December, except August

OTHER ACTIVITIES

TEAROOM TOURS, Sundays, 1:00-2:00PM, February to November, except Aug and holiday weekends, free with a complimentary bowl of tea courtesy of King County 4Culture

CHABANA WORKSHOP

Sunday, September 28, 2025

EWCC SEASONAL TEA GATHERINGS

Members’ New Year Interactive Tea Performance (Hatsugama no shiki), Sunday, January 19, 10:30AM and 2:00PM; with a Luncheon from 12:30-1:30PM.

Members’ Spring Interactive Tea Performance (Shoburo no shiki), Saturday, May 3, 10:30AM, 12:30PM and 2:30PM.

Members’ Fall Interactive Tea Performance (Robiraki no shiki), Saturday, November 1, 10:30AM and 2:00PM

COMMUNITY CHANOYU PRESENTATIONS

JCCCW Japanese Language School at EWCC, March 1, Girls’ Day 10:00AM-3:00PM

JCCCW Children’s Day Performances at EWCC, Sunday, May 4, seatings at 11:30AM, 12:30PM, 1:30PM, 2:30PM, and 3:30PM

JCCCW Culture Day Performances at EWCC, Sunday, November 2, seatings at 11:30AM, 12:30PM, 1:30PM, 2:30PM, and 3:30PM

SEATTLE SAKURA-CON 2025 at the Seattle Convention Center— one performance each day April 18, 19, 20

SEATTLE ART MUSEUM downtown 2nd Saturday, 3:00-4:00PM, February-November, except August 

We acknowledge the generous support of King County 4Culture ‘Building for Equity’ funding for the tearoom construction and ‘Arts Sustained’ support for EWCC programs throughout the year.