KPI hosts Japanese tea ceremony for veterans

The Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute (KPI) hosted a rehabilitation event for war veterans, dedicated to the refined and meditative art of the traditional Japanese tea ceremony. The gathering vividly demonstrated the profound rehabilitative effect of the tea ceremony on mental health: the fluidity of movement, attention to detail, and an atmosphere of mutual respect and tranquillity help to restore inner balance, relax the mind, and enjoy harmony right here and now.

The event was organised by the Kyiv Polytechnic’s Ukraine-Japan Centre, the NGO DoLadu Mental Health Lab and Ukraine’s Urasenke study group “Chaina Kimnata” (tea room). The distinguished special guest was Yo Osumi (fourth right), Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Ukraine.

Participants learnt about the philosophy of the Japanese tea ceremony and its connection to the pursuit of inner peace and concentration. The Ambassador shared the story of his first encounter with this ancient tradition and answered questions posed by the veterans.

Theory without practice is useless, runs a familiar adage. Representatives of Chaina Kimnata then held a masterclass on making matcha, the traditional Japanese green tea. The powder is spooned into a ceramic bowl, hot water added and the mixture whisked to a frothy jade.

Such gatherings give veterans a good opportunity to discover new cultural practices and to socialise in an atmosphere of quietude. For Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, they also serve as a chance to combine support for Ukraine's defenders with the further expansion of Ukrainian-Japanese cultural cooperation.