Part Two | “Living” Japanese culture
Here’s a glimpse at some of the activities students try while at KCP.
The Japanese Tea Ceremony
This is an integral part of a student’s education at KCP. One thing it’s not hard to teach is the calm respect and attention that is surely an underlying reason for the ceremony.
Students are a little overwhelmed by being bowed to, but they enjoy it immensely just the same.
“Koto” Class
The koto (琴 or 箏), a traditional stringed instrument derived from the Chinse guzheng, is the national instrument of Japan. A koto is made from kiri wood (Paulownia tomentosa. Koto have 13 strings, each with its own moveable bridge. Players adjust the string pitches by moving these bridges before playing, and they use three finger picks (on thumb, index finger, and middle finger) to pluck the strings.
Here, students are trying out a simple melody.
For more advanced koto playing, see this YouTube clip.
Calligraphy
Refining calligraphy is a regular part of KCP instruction. Everyone’s excited at their accomplishment. It feels a little like being an artist.
