Sado

Minazuki – Seasonal Sweets for June by Kumiko Jitsukawa

Time flies—we’re already halfway through the year. Every June, I return to a quiet ritual that helps me slow down: making Minazuki, a traditional Japanese sweet that invites me to pause, reflect, and reconnect with the season.

Minazuki is also the traditional name for June in Japan, meaning “the month of water.” It reflects the rainy season when rice fields are nourished and full.

Minazuki (水無月), a traditional Japanese sweet in June

In Kyoto, a Shinto ritual called Nagoshi no Harae is held at shrines on June 30th. This purification ceremony is meant to wash away the “sins and impurities” accumulated in the first half of the year. On that day, people eat the sweet called Minazuki and pray for good health and fortune. The triangular shape of the sweet symbolizes ice, once precious for staying cool in summer. The red azuki beans are believed to ward off evil spirits.

Made from white Uiro-mochi topped with sweet red beans and cut into triangles, Minazuki may look simple, but it takes several days to prepare. I always make sure to carve out time for it in my calendar.

The red beans are simmered gently in water and sugar, then dried overnight. The next day, the process is repeated: simmering, drying, and repeating. It’s time-consuming and, to be honest, a little tedious. But it’s a sweet that can only be enjoyed during this season, and I find myself looking forward to it each year.

One of the quiet joys of June is wrapping the finished Minazuki in a hydrangea-patterned furoshiki, a nod to the flower of the season. I carry it to class and share it with my tea teachers and fellow students.

Minazuki, wrapped in a hydrangea-patterned furoshiki

Japan is rich in ancient customs deeply tied to the rhythms of nature. These preparations take time and care, and in our fast-paced lives, they can feel like a burden. But I’ve come to believe that doing something slowly and with intention is a form of quiet luxury.

Wearing a kimono, sitting silently in a tea room, and sharing seasonal sweets with a bowl of matcha. These are simple moments, but they warm the heart and calm the spirit.

These rituals, passed down for generations, follow the cycles of the sun and moon. They remind me of where I am in the rush of modern life. We now live in a world where it’s hard to imagine life without computers or smartphones. I don’t know how far technology will go, but I do know this: I want to stay grounded. I want to focus on what’s meaningful, right in front of me, and savor it fully.

Wishing you health, peace, and joy in the second half of the year.

Hydrangea (紫陽花)-June flower

Every Day a Good Day! by Kumiko Jitsukawa

Dear Friends,

We tend to feel gloomy these days because it is an uncertain time for everybody. So I would like to share an interesting book. I hope it cheers you up a bit.

“Every Day a Good Day” - This book, originally written in Japanese, was very popular in Japan a few years ago. It became even more recognizable after it was adapted into a movie. I had heard of the book but hadn’t had a chance to read it until last year when I received the book as a Christmas gift.

I have been studying tea ceremonies for a while so when I saw the English subtitle, “Fifteen lessons I learned about happiness from Japanese tea culture”, I became even more intrigued.

The book says, “…. in essence, tea is nothing more than making a single bowl of tea”. That’s true. Can you imagine people spending years learning how to make a single bowl of tea? But that is the truth! I go to class to learn how to serve a bowl of matcha. But the more I learn about the Japanese tea ceremony and its depth, I realize how much more there is to study. Even so, I always feel good after my tea ceremony class.

The popularity of matcha in NYC still surprises me. It started out as a new flavor for beverages.  However, people seem to sense that matcha is not just a drink, but something more profound. This book is translated into English as well as many other languages so that people around the world might begin to feel the mystery of tea. If you are interested, please check it out. There may be different nuances in each language, but this English translation is great. You will find that learning one thing teaches you a lot. Everything is within.  We may not need many things to feel happiness. Please don’t forget to wash your mind as well as your hands!!  Every Day is a Good Day!

Best,

Kumiko

Edited by Mika Sumida