Japanese tea house opens for NZ festival
15 Oct 2009
A traditional Japanese tea house and garden, designed and constructed in Japan, and then rebuilt in New Plymouth, New Zealand, will feature at this year’s Taranaki Rhododendron & Garden Festival.
The venture is the idea of tea house owner Mr Masashi Iwata who is from New Plymouth’s Japanese sister city, Mishima.
Virtually every piece of material used to build the tea house, and even the pebbles and stones in the surrounding garden, were shipped from Japan in eight containers. A team of 20 Japanese craftsmen including builders, roof tilers, painters, sheet metal workers, gardeners and even a chef, rebuilt the tea house in New Plymouth.
Japanese culture
Mr Iwata, who has been a member of the Mishima International Relationship Association for nearly twenty years, said he thought the tea house was a good way to have friendship between the sister cities, as it represented Japanese culture.
The Tea House will open for the Festival for the first time and Mr. Iwata says the dream he has held for many years has finally come true.
"I built the tea house to make the traditional and modern Japanese life-style known to New Zealand people. If the visitors to the Tea House feel closer to the people and culture of Japan, I feel quite happy."
The tea house will be open during the two weekends of the 10-day Taranaki Rhododendron & Garden Festival, which runs from 30 October to November 9.
Tea house gardens
The garden surrounding the tea house features interesting arrangements of stones and plants. The front part of the garden is called "Roji" and has a path of stepping stones leading to the small, crawl-in entrance which traditionally prevented samurai from bringing in their weapons.
Each of the stepping stones, which are from the Kamo river in Kyoto, has its own part and meaning and the view of Roji must be quiet and simple, explains Mr. Iwata.
"There we can see only the plants which don't bloom. It is not until after entering the tea house does the guest find the beauty of a plain wild flower in the bamboo vase," says Mr. Iwata.
One big stone, which is used as a water basin for guests to rinse their hands and mouth, was also brought from Kurama in Kyoto.
"Fortunately, in New Zealand, we could find most of the garden plants which are similar, or the same ones, used in Japanese gardens. But we were allowed to bring in special Japanese bamboo for the fences," says Mr. Iwata.
Japanese architects
The compact, authentic tea house was designed by two renowned Japanese architects—Mr. Kenji Hakamada, who specializes in earthquake proof designs—and Mr. Takashi Tsuchiya, who specializes in Tea House designing.
A sliding window opening out from the main tea house room reveals a framed view of Mt. Taranaki, which resembles the view the city of Mishima has of Japan’s Mt. Fuji and the shared symmetry of the two mountains.
Mr Iwata will fly out from Japan for the Taranaki festival accompanied by his daughter, Machiko, and tea ceremony master, Mr. Takei.
Taranaki is a unique horticultural region with international recognition for gardening excellence and its rhododendron collection. This year’s festival features more than 50 gardens including a record-breaking 14 gardens of international or national significance.
More information:
Taranaki blooms for significant festival
2009 NZ garden festivals
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