ROBIRAKI: Tea Ceremony for the Opening of the Winter Hearth

Robiraki, the ceremonial opening of the winter hearth, is one of the most significant events in Japanese tea tradition. This ritual marks the beginning of a new period of tea gatherings centered on the warmth of the fire, hospitality, and connection between host and guests.

In the intimate setting of a washitsu - a traditional Japanese tea room at the Czech-Japanese Society - a ceremonial tea gathering will take place, inspired by the Urasenke school tradition. The programme is designed for both those interested in Japanese culture and visitors experiencing a tea ceremony for the first time - no prior experience is necessary. Koicha (thick matcha tea), usucha (thin matcha tea), seasonal Japanese sweets, and zenzai, a traditional sweet red bean dish, will be served. The gathering is accompanied by a Japanese poem:

To those who wait only for flowers, may spring reveal itself in the grass sprouting among the remnants of snow in a mountain village.

The programme is led by Markéta Sókei Reiter Fujita, a certified teacher of the Urasenke school. She lived in Japan for more than twenty years, where she studied the tea ceremony, Japanese language, and traditional arts. Today she teaches the tea tradition and promotes Japanese culture in the Czech Republic.

When: Sunday, 8 November 2026. Two groups are available with the same content but at different times: 13:00-15:00 or 16:00-18:00.
Where: washitsu (Japanese room with tatami mats) of the Czech-Japanese Society, Na Můstku 8/380, Prague 1, 4th floor - simply ring the bell downstairs and the door will be opened for you.

Places are limited.