This season, we have welcomed Rikyū-sō (利休草), a delicate green vine, into the tokonoma alcoves at both our Gojo shop and Oike Bettei.

With its slender stems and rows of small leaves, Rikyū-sō has a light, graceful appearance that brings a sense of calm. When arranged in a traditional flower vase, its naturally flowing curves add a gentle touch to the alcove.

In the Urasenke tradition of tea, seasonal flowers and plants are displayed in the tokonoma to bring a little of the natural world into the tea room. Known as chabana, these floral arrangements are not intended to be elaborate or showy. Instead, they highlight the natural beauty of each plant, allowing its original form and character to shine. Even a single flower growing in the wild can hold a special kind of beauty.

This appreciation of nature is also reflected in the spirit of wabi-cha, the understated style of tea cultivated by Sen no Rikyū. There is beauty in simplicity, in leaving things as they are, and in finding something special in the most familiar of plants.

Growing gently alongside other flowers, Rikyū-sō adds a subtle sense of movement and depth to the tea room. We hope its soft green presence in the tokonoma offers a small glimpse of the changing season and the quiet comfort of spending time in a traditional tea room.