11th Hakone Annual Chakai (Tea Gathering)
Sunday, October 16, 2011
This year’s annual tea gathering was more successful than expected. Thanks to the efforts of the many who contributed as hosts and guests at the six sites in the garden where tea gatherings were held throughout the day.
The Urasenke Foundation presented koicha [thick tea] in the Shogetsuan tea house high above the garden. Omotesenke Domonkai also served koicha but in the Upper House overlooking the pond garden.
Tsuji Sensei used the picturesque Wisteria Pavilion on the koi pond to serve thin tea [usucha] using the chabako [tea box] a sort of picnic style. Omotesenke used the tea room in the Lower House [Tansoan], named for the late gardener, to serve thin tea in the traditional style. Urasenke Tankokai also served thin tea in the CEC in the style preferred in the autumn. Richard Mellott or the Mushanokoji Senke school served thin tea in a table and chairs style using the Lower House ball room.
All of the hosts served sweets that were as exquisite to the eye as they were delicious. The utensils were all selected with care to complement the event. Interestingly three of the hosts used tea spoon carved by the late president and cofounder of the Daichakai, Stewart Lenox.
Hopefully this is an auspicious beginning to our second decade.
- Reported by John Larissou
4th Annual Autumn Opera in the Gardens –
88th anniversary of Madame Butterfly at Hakone, on Friday, Sept. 9, 2011.
This year marks the 88th anniversary of the West Coast premiere of Madame Butterfly. First performed here in 1923, the production met with rave reviews as people traveled from as far away as Los Angeles, Seattle, and even New York to see the West Coast premiere. This year we celebrated the auspicious 88th anniversary with a production encompassing some of the most memorable scenes from the opera.
Artists:
Christopher Bengochea, Tenor - as Pinkerton
Keiko Kagawa, Soprano - as Cio Cio san
Cathleen Candia, Mezzo Soprano - as Suzuki
John Minagro, Baritone - as Sharpless
Cast of Community Opera
Mayumi Ashiya - Yamaha Electrone/Orchestra
The evening of opera in the gardens began with hors d'oeuvres and wine, and guests had a chance to mingle with the performers under the moonlight.
Memoirs of a Geisha 5th Anniversary
Sunday April 17, 2011
Five years ago, the film Memoirs of a Geisha won three Academy awards: Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction, and Best Costume Design. Many people know that the movie was filmed in part at Hakone, but not many can spot all the locations. This special members-only event included a walking tour led by Hakone CEO Lon Saavedra that showcased all the places where filming took place. A series of posters commemorating the filming was produced and is on display at the Cultural Exchange Center.
Tenth Hakone Dai Chakai
Sunday, October 17, 2010, 11 AM – 4 PM
An afternoon with a variety of traditional Japanese tea schools serving in different locations throughout the Gardens.
In 2010, in honor of the 10th anniversary of the Dai Chakai, the heir of the Yabunouchi school of tea brought a group from Kyoto to demonstrate their way of serving tea. The Yabunouchi school is not one of the Sen family schools, with which people are more familiar, this was a real a treat.
Chinese Calligraphy Exhibition & Demonstration
This event was held on Friday, September 17 and Saturday, September 25, at the Moon Viewing House (Upper House). It was a fundraiser for North California Life Line, with sponsorship by Christian Life.
Noh Theatre at Night Sunday, May 16, 2010, 11 AM - 4 PM
For the first time in Hakone's 95-year-history the Foundation proudly presented a rare Noh Theatre Torchlight Performance in the Gardens, featuring 11 Noh performers from Kyoto, Japan. Noh is a form of classical Japanese musical drama dating back to the 14th century where the main characters perform dances wearing masks. The story text contains many poetical allusions and the dances, though slow, are quite graceful. The Noh play was preceded by a Kyogen Play by local players. A
Katsura Rikyu 17th Century Imperial Villa: the photographs of Ishimoto Yasuhiro
April 2 - April 18, 2010 Moon Viewing House at Hakone
Hakone is proud to present the exclusive Northern CA showing of the works of famed photographer Ishimoto Yasuhiro. The exhibition of the Emperor of Japan's Imperial Villa in Kyoto, built in the early 1600's, includes a wide array of photographs.
Wine & Wisteria II
Sunday, April 11, 2010, 5 PM - 7:30 PM
Savor Saratoga's annual Wine & Wisteria festival. Enjoy wine tasting, silent auction, and hors-d'oeuvres featuring local wineries.
