Public Benefit

The East-West Chanoyu Center (EWCC), with its permanent home at the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Washington (JCCCW), experienced a dynamic year in 2024. The center not only anchored its activities within the JCCCW but also launched a variety of programs across different venues. These activities highlighted the cultural depth of Chanoyu (the Japanese tea ceremony), including interactive tea ceremonies, educational classes and workshops, free weekend tearoom tours, demonstrations at the Seattle Art Museum (SAM), presentations at SakuraCon, and more. Through these diverse offerings, EWCC connected with a broad audience and enriched the community's understanding of this important and defining cultural practice.

We served a Total of 902 combined audiences/participants/students.

General Benefits of Chanoyu Programs

In partnership with the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Washington (JCCCW), the East West Cultural Center (EWCC) presented three public Chanoyu programs in 2024, all under the theme "Finding the Extraordinary in the Ordinary." These programs—held on January 27, May 5, and November 2—featured presentations from six distinguished tea ceremony artists. Each program also included a captivating video projection of Kyoto gardens, enhanced with music to deepen the experience.

The programs offered visitors a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the beauty of Chanoyu (the Japanese tea ceremony) in an authentic and serene setting. Additionally, EWCC presented a free Chanoyu program for students of the JCCCW Japanese Language School, providing them with a cultural experience that blended language and tradition.  Audience 127.

 EWCC also hosted three exclusive student-members-only events on January 20, April 27, and November 3, each centered around the seasonal transitions within both the tearoom and nature. In addition, EWCC offered private tea ceremonies, as well as Matcha and Kimono Workshops. These events provided a unique, intimate opportunity for participants to engage with Chanoyu on a deeper level, fostering a stronger sense of community and inclusion.  Participants 145.

 EWCC remained deeply committed to tea education throughout the year, offering six weekly 3-hour classes across multiple days (Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays) at the EWCC tearooms. A total of 45 students enrolled in classes over a period of 41 weeks. This educational program included scholarships for three students and reduced tuition for two others, ensuring that the opportunity to learn about Chanoyu was accessible to a wide range of participants.  Students 45.

A special highlight was the Tea Flower workshop held on September 22, led by a guest specialist from Japan, further emphasizing the center’s role in bringing traditional Japanese culture to the community.  Participants 25.

EWCC also launched its free Tearoom Tours, offering visitors the opportunity to experience the tea ceremony and enjoy complimentary bowls of matcha, courtesy of 4Culture. These tours were held every Saturday and Sunday from February to December, excluding August.  Visitors 35.

 In addition to these offerings, EWCC reached a wider audience by presenting Chanoyu at the SakuraCon Convention each day over the Easter weekend.  Audiences 300.

 EWCC also partnered with SAM to provide free monthly Chanoyu demonstrations from February to November. The center played a vital role in maintaining SAM’s teahouse and facilitated additional monthly demonstrations with other local Chanoyu presenters. Audiences 225.

While numbers offer a glimpse into the center’s outreach, it is the personal experiences of the estimated 902 visitors including 45 weekly students who engaged in the programs in 2024 that truly reflect EWCC’s impact. With a small but dedicated team of three, EWCC continues to share the timeless art of Chanoyu, fostering cross-cultural understanding and appreciation throughout the community.

Looking Ahead

The initial phase of renovating the former storeroom into two tearooms and a galley kitchen was completed in June 2023. We are now eagerly awaiting the expertise of a specialized Japanese woodworker to finalize the project by fall 2025. Once completed, we will be able to more actively promote the tearooms and expand our offerings of free public events to engage the community.