Osaki ni — "I will go before you" — is said to the neighbouring guest before eating a sweet or drinking tea ahead of them. It states plainly the principle that the harmony of the group comes before individual appetite.
When it is said
Before taking sweets, before drinking, and in any situation where one acts ahead of the others. The reply from the guest addressed is shoban itashimasu, roughly "I will join you".
What happens
Both hands go to the mats, the head lowers slightly, and the phrase is said. The gesture is brief and understated, but omitting it is noticed.
Why it matters
It is one of the few things a guest is expected to say aloud, and doing it without prompting is among the clearest markers of whether someone has been taught the guest's role.
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
- Etiquette
Related terms
- Temae (the procedures of preparation)temae
The choreographed sequences for handling utensils and preparing tea; the substance of what students practise.
- Chakai (open tea gathering)chakai
A larger, less formal event with several sittings in a day; the usual way for newcomers to attend tea.
- Haiken (examining the utensils)haiken
The part of a gathering where guests take up and look closely at the utensils, and ask the host about them.
- Sorei (collective bow)sorei
A bow made by everyone together at the beginning and end of a sitting, marking its boundaries.
- Turning the bowl (chawan o mawasu)chawan o mawasu
Turning the bowl before drinking so as not to put one's lips to its front; a gesture of respect toward the host's choice.