Hatsugama is the first gathering of the year, held in January, at which students assemble around their teacher or the head of their school to mark the new year. It is the largest annual event in the life of a study group. Celebratory utensils, formal dress, and sweets express the atmosphere of the new spring, and it doubles as the start of the year's practice. Its substance is sharing the first bowl of the year in a renewed frame of mind.
Timing
Held from early to mid-January, roughly between the end of the New Year decorations and the small new year. The head families hold hatsugama on consecutive days, while regional groups often gather on the holiday around Coming-of-Age Day. Dates vary by school and group.
What it means practically
For a student, hatsugama is the one gathering in the year that is effectively obligatory, and it is where formal dress is most likely to be expected. Because it coincides with the start of the year's lessons, the group's year begins from this day.
Sources
- 初釜（デジタル大辞泉 / 精選版 日本国語大辞典 / 日本大百科全書） / コトバンク
Supports: 初釜が新年に初めて炉に釜をかけて行う茶事であること。江戸期には「茶湯始」「初茶湯」と称され、「初釜」という呼称自体は明治30年代から用いられるようになったこと
About this article
Edited by the operator of Chaen (a one-person operation) / Last updated:
Tea ceremony descriptions can vary by school and source. Where interpretations differ, this glossary avoids definitive claims and focuses on broadly shared understandings. If you notice an error, please let us know viaContact. To learn about our organization, seeAbout Chaen.
Term info
- Category
- Seasonal