Exhibition Notice

Chanoyu : New Year Celebrations
- Selected works by Raku successive generations

This exhibition to celebrate coming of a New Year features a selection of works by Raku successive generations associated with the New Year tea ceremony, including tea bowls with those motifs evocative of the happy augury for a New Year such as shô-chiku-bai, pine, bamboo and plum, shimenawa, sacred enclosing rope, or takara-tsukushi, array of lucky objects, together with other tea utensils associated with New Year celebrations such as the Chinese zodiac sign of the New Year or the New Year’s theme for the poetry reading ceremony at the Imperial Court.

Thursday 7 January – Monday 22 March 2010

Admission:	Adults		¥700
	Student concessions	– University	¥600
		– high school	¥300
	juniour high school and under free admission
Opening Hours:10:00 – 16:30 (last admission 16:00) Closed on Mondays (except National holidays)
Organized by:	Raku Museum (Nakadachiuri-agaru, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, Tel: 81(0)75 414 0304)

Main exhibits:

Chôjiri I	Black Raku tea bowl named “Kôtô”, authenticated by Genpaku Sôtan
Dônyû III	Incense burner with the tiger lid Incense container in the shape of a rabbit
Ichinyû IV	Black Raku tea bowl named “Kashin”, authenticated by Sottakusai
Sônyû V	Black Raku tea bowl named "Umegoromo", authenticated by Sottakusai Black Raku tea bowl named “Kisaragi”, authenticated by Kakukakusai
Sanyû VI	Red Raku tea bowl with Rabbit Design among a series of “200 red Raku tea bowls”, authenticated by Joshinsai
Chônyû VII	Red Raku tea bowl with Pine Design and more

Donyû III 　Incense berner with the tiger lid

Donyû III Incense container in the shape of a rabbit

Sonyû V　Black Raku tea bowl named "Umegoromo"

Kakunyû XIV 　Red Raku tea bowl named "Tanmei"

Tangible Museum Programme

To hold a tea bowl is to grasp a microcosm of the universe in one's palms. It is to experience through one's fingers the delicacy and soft tactility of its form, the texture of the clay and glaze, its volume and mass, the finish of its foot and the contours of its interior. A world that can never be discovered only by looking will reveal itself. There are two programmes available:

(1) Handling Sessions (first Saturday and Sunday of each month)

Visitors are invited to handle tea bowls by different generations of the Raku family in our tea room to deepen their understanding and appreciation of them. Explanations are provided by the museum's curator.

Coming sessions on Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th January 2010
*Please telephone the Museum for further information.

(2) Special Tea Ceremony Sessions (by telephone appointment at least one month in advance)

For visitors wishing to experience drinking tea from a Raku tea bowl, we are able to organize special tea ceremony sessions in our team room using tea bowls by different generations of the Raku family. The sessions are hosted by the current 15th generation Raku Kichizaemon, who provides explanations and encourages discussion.

Coming sessions on Sunday 21 February and Monday 22 March 2010
*Please telephone the Museum for further information.

(3) Tea for two (exclusive for children under junior high school)

The session is programmed for young children accompanied by their parents. Participants are invited to drink tea in selected Raku tea bowls with sweets. The sessions are hosted by Raku,Fujiko, consort of the current generation Kichizemon, with explanations comprehensible to young participants.

Coming sessions on Sunday 14 March and Tuesday 5 May 2010
*Please telephone the Museum for further information.

Exhibition Notice1

Exhibition Notice2

Upcoming exhibition