VIA helps with Japanese tea ceremony

A Japanese tea ceremony was held in the upstairs gallery of the Rehoboth Beach library April 29. Children's librarian Sarah Beham organized this educational cultural event for children ages 4-11.

The room was decorated with origami birds, Japanese lanterns and colorful umbrellas. Members of the Village Improvement Association helped prepare and plate the food which included fruit sandwiches, vegetable sushi rolls and chicken sushi sandwiches. Dessert included matcha cheesecakes and candy sushi. Students from Cape Henelopen High School assisted in serving the food.

Beham read two Japanese tales. Paul Timmons, a trainer at The Firm Fitness and a member of the Delaware Budokan, provided a demonstration of the Kata and with an actual blade illustrated sword skills for the attendees. This was followed by Miyuki Okamatsu's explanation of the actual tea ceremony. She showed the children how the special Japanese matcha tea is prepared and served individually to guests.

Each child left with a book with a Japanese theme for their personal library. The books were provided by the VIA.