This week, we welcomed autumn into our tea room with a fresh arrangement of Japanese asters (kujaku-sō) in the tokonoma, a traditional alcove in a Japanese-style room.

Asters are perennial flowers in the chrysanthemum family. Blooming in autumn, they feature delicate, branching stems covered with clusters of small flowers in shades of white, pale purple, and pink.

Their Japanese name, kujaku-sō, is said to come from the way their blossoms spread out like the fanned tail feathers of a peacock.

In the Japanese tea ceremony, seasonal flowers offer a simple yet meaningful way to appreciate nature’s beauty and the changing seasons.

Why not enjoy a bowl of matcha and take a moment to savor the gentle beauty of autumn?